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How to Extend Colombia Tourist Visa 90 Days Online : Colombia Visa Extension Made Easy

MY EXPERIENCE ON HOW TO EXTEND COLOMBIA TOURIST PERMIT/STAY & TIPS

By Deb Pati last updated on November 30, 2022

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This article has been written with direct inputs from a fellow traveler and expat Shawn Nay who is an American citizen and extended his Colombia tourist visa successfully online.

• Colombia Visa for Indians
• Work Visa for Colombia
• Colombia Visa Requirements

Colombian girlfriend: “Hey Shawn,. What happened to your plan to extend Colombia tourist visa? You know we were talking about the other day? You got it, right?” Me: “Oh yeah! No worries at all. Was a piece of cake.” Moment of truth? No, I had not. And no, I was not worried. I knew I could do it online and I had 15 days to go before my 90 days Colombia tourist stay would expire. So, we go back to netflixing.

Yeah, I know what you are thinking. No, we did actually start a new episode of Black Mirror with Spanish subs. Yes, cuddling was involved.

Anyways, fast forward 10 days, and I heard from some Expats that the online one wasn’t all flowers and rainbows- and that’s when I remembered I still hadn’t done it and that got me worried as fuck.

Coz’ if I couldn’t do it for some reason, I would have had to go for a last-minute ticket to leave Colombia. And I wasn’t ready to leave yet.

Well, to tell you the whole experience, it wasn’t really flowers and rainbows.

But hey, at least it wasn’t like when I tried to extend my Peru tourist stay online.

That portal is designed for giving heart attacks to people like me. And those heart attacks come in Spanish as well, which I needed to translate on Google later.

Ok, now, I am gonna explain you the whole process to extend Colombia tourist visa so that you know what comes after what, and your life is easier.

Note that this extension applies to Colombia tourist stay only, not to any other visas or permits. Many expats also refer it to as a Colombia tourist permit extension.

Who is this visa extension for? This extension is for people who entered Colombia with just an entry stamp as a tourist, and not with an actual visa sticker. Examples- Citizens of USA, Canada, EU countries, Australia, Philippines,New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago. This extension is not for you if you entered with a real tourist visa with a visa sticker. Examples- India, South Africa, Nigeria, Vietnam

Table of Contents

Don’t be a Lazy Bum. Don’t Stall it.

You don’t have to extend the tourist permit right after your arrival. Just do it a couple of weeks before the 90-day deadline.

Whatever you do, don’t wait until the last moment to extend Colombia visa. Yeah, doing it the Jason Bourne way sounds awesome in your head, but you are not in a movie.

Once you know, you are gonna be in Colombia for the long run( Ok, I mean 180 days), just do it. The best thing about the Colombian visa extension is that the extension starts only after your current limit runs out.

It’s not like some other Latin American countries ( I am looking at you Bolivia), where it would start from the day you get it and eat up the days you already have.

Step 1: Colombia Visa Extension Requirements

Ok, so now that we know you are not a procrastinator, let’s talk about the documents. The fun part. Good news? Just 3 documents. Nothing more.

However, if you are trying to extend Colombia tourist stay for children, you need to submit a couple more documents.

1. Passport bio page

The passport bio page is, of course, the mandatory document. If you have a passport that has an address page, it’s not necessary to upload it. Just the page with your pic and name and DOB should do the trick.

2. Entry stamp

This is the page of your passport where the Colombian immigration stamped the date of your entry into Colombia.

3. Onward Flight from Colombia

An onward flight ticket that takes you out of Colombia. You can submit your flight confirmation email or a PDF of the ticket.

Make sure it has your full name, the date of departure falls within the range of the initial 180 days of arriving in Colombia. And the itinerary must be from any Colombian city to a non-Colombian city. That’s kind of obvious, but still!

If you want to get your full 180 days in Colombia, reserve a flight that leaves on that 180th day. If you don’t, you might get the Colombian stay extension until the date of departure.

There are several ways to get an onward ticket without spending a penny. The easiest one is to get a refundable once through Expedia or Orbitz and then cancel it within 24 hours.

But if you are looking to rent , here is one you can do on   Onward Ticket for 48 hours.

4. Birth certificate for Children & Passport of One parent

While this was not something I experienced personally (since I don’t have children), I got to hear from some other expats that Colombian authorities are asking parents to prove that they are in reality parents of the children whose tourist permits they are extending.

Apparently, when you enter, they don’t ask you a thing. However, when you extend the Colombian tourist permit for your children, they ask for extra proof.

So you can upload the scanned copy of the birth certificate of your children in that case. And the Migraciones Colombia might ask you to notarize them as well.

If the birth certificate is in English, there is no need to get it translated. If it is in a language other than Spanish/English, check with them whether they need it to be translated.

Also, note that you need to upload your passport bio when you submit the application for your child. One of the parents’ passport bio has to accompany the visa extension application for the child.

Step 2: Submit the Online Colombia Tourist Visa Extension Application

You would need to start at the official website of Colombia migraciones .

Choose “English” on the top right. Be happy that they have that option, and you don’t need to use Google Translate.

Then, under “Tipo de Tramite” check the box beside “Permiso Temporal de Permanencia para Prorrogar Permanencia.”

Have all your documents ready. The whole thing won’t take more than a few minutes.

• When you choose English, the website doesn’t translate everything into English in reality, which is really fun. Google what’s your nationality is called in Spanish and fill in the column for Nationality/Country of Issuance/Country. If the name you found in Spanish is not there, try searching for the English name.
• If you can’t find your place of birth, select “NO APLICA”.
• Note that, the state/departments are not available for all the countries except for some like the United States and Canada. Same goes for city/town of issuance. So if you can’t find yours, simply select your country in the state. For example, if you are from Germany, you can see only three values in the states dropdown: BERLIN, MUNICH,GERMANY. I am pretty sure Germany has some more states. So in this case, simply choose Germany.

When you scroll down, you would find the option to upload the documents.

Now, what’s weird is that, when you upload the documents, it doesn’t really ask you for anything other than the passport bio page.

I have known people who did the extension without uploading an onward flight ticket. Hell, I also know people who just uploaded just the bio page of the passport and not the entry stamp page, and they got it as well.

However, if you ask me, I would say that you should do it the right way. And the right way is to simply combine all three documents in one PDF, and make sure that the size of that PDF doesn’t exceed 1 MB.

There are many websites that combine and compress PDFs for free. I love these three for what it’s worth.

• ilovepdf.com
• pdfjoiner.com
• combinepdf.com

If you do everything right, and click on the ‘ACEPTO’ button, you will be forwarded to a page with your unique application number.

After this, you should receive an email like below shortly. I got it in English only.

In case you get it in Spanish, It would say the same thing that your application has been received and that you will receive a response within one business day.

It would also include a confirmation number and a password to check your application status online.

You can take the key and the application number, and check for the status on the Migraciones Colombia website .

At this point of time, the Colombia Visa Extension status would be simply REGISTRADO , meaning “registered” and the payment status would be Tramite No Facturado , which basically translated to “Not paid”.

Step 3: Pray

In my experience, every time you file for a visa extension, apply for a cedula or do any bureaucratic work with migraciones in Latin America, just be a sport and pray.

Pray that the person from immigration who is assigned your case is an efficient and happy employee who takes the job seriously, and who would check the papers and the dates properly.

So extending the Colombian tourist permit is not gonna be any different.

Step 4: Pay the Fees to Extend Colombia Tourist Visa

Be on the lookout for the emails from Migraciones Colombia. If you didn’t miss out on any requirements, then usually you should get the email within a day only. This email should say “pre-aprobada or pre-approved” .

In my case, I received an email the next day indicating that my application had been pre-approved. This would contain the payment info.

If you’re a national of an EU country, your Colombia travel visa extension is free.

Otherwise, you have to pay the equivalent of $30 in Colombian pesos. I paid 99,000 COP.

You can pay online, at a Banco Occidente bank, or at a Migracion Colombia office. 

Now the thing about payment is I was not able to make the payment successfully the first time. I got some kind of error.

But after refreshing the page everything worked fine through a secure site called “Place to Pay”, and I was able to pay with my credit card.

Step 5: Receive Success Email for Colombia Tourist Permit Extension

After you are approved and have paid you will receive a PDF indicating that your tourist permit has been extended.

Take a printout and keep it with your passport. And there is no need to go to the Migracion Colombia office if you are able to successfully renew online.

This email must contain the phrase “con exito”. Those are the magic words you are looking for.

Problems with Extending Colombia Tourist Visa & Possible Solutions

Spoiler alert: The website can be slow and flaky. If you do it in English, you might see a lot of “Please Wait” or in Spanish, “Por favor espere”.

Here are the common scenarios that I got to hear from other expats. If you come across something else, do comment.

1. What to Do If You Get a Rejection Email

You might get a rejection email that would say “No fue aprobada” or something in the line of that for many reasons.

• You didn’t upload all the documents.
• The PDFs you uploaded were not of good quality. I would suggest uploading properly scanned documents rather than some pic from your phone.
• The guy who was assigned your case at migraciones was having a bad day.
• Your data was not correctly registered in the system when you entered Colombia, again by some immigration guy whose idea of work involved a bit of aguardiente.

In all these cases, if you are sure about your documents, fill out the form and upload the documents and submit a fresh application.

Many expats have tried two or three times, and then only were successful.

Another thing: I have personally heard cases where someone received a rejection email, and when they scrambled to check what they missed and what their options were, an approval email made it to their inbox after a few hours.

2. What to Do If You Don’t Get a Rejection  or  Approval Email

It’s possible that you don’t receive any kind of email after submitting the application. Wait for at least 24 hours but no more than 48 hours for the email.

Should You Go to Migraciones?

If you have already moved to Colombia or planning to, here is your chance to get a direct dose of Colombian bureaucracy.

My experience so far has been great with many other things like getting a Colombian Work Visa or Cedula, but a tourist stay extension is something else. From what I have heard from different expats yet and the comments, you never know.

• Sometimes, they might simply turn you back saying they are too busy.
• Sometimes they could say they don’t really get involved in this.
• Since you have submitted the application, it’s all that matters( Don’t believe that). See Chelsea’s comment.
• And then there are those great days when someone will be in a great mood and give you an out.

If visiting the office is the last resort, take an appointment and then, take a print off of the ‘code generated’ screenshot from the first email and a copy of all my documents.

Do carry a credit card and cash with you to make the payment. You never know what will work there.

COVID Updates: Colombia Tourist Stay Extension

Since the COVID hit, many expats have reported not receiving any emails even for one or two weeks. Due to COVID, things are taking much longer. Do check your spam folder and note down your case number.

Make sure that you are not missing any important docs like the onward flight.

And if you are not missing anything, then there is not much to do except to wait and watch until things get better.

3. What to Do When There are Payment Issues?

If your payment doesn’t go through the first time, give it one more try after some time, maybe on a different browser.

If you don’t receive the payment link, one trick is to try the payment link with your login creds: https://apps.migracioncolombia.gov.co/registro/public/numeroGenerado.jsf

See Jay’s comment on this.

Also, at the end of the payment, you can take note of the email:  [email protected]

, and use it for any communication related to payment issues.

4. Call to Sort Things Out

I get that it is not always possible to go to a migraciones office, especially if you are in someplace deep in the jungle or something.

So, if there is a problem with your application and you can’t go to the immigration office, you may be able to solve this via the phone. You can ask to talk to an English-speaking agent.

• Land line (f ijo ) at 6-055454
• Toll free to 01800 0510454.

You can also schedule an appointment at a migraciones office through the same phone number.

Leaving and Re-entering Colombia after Visa Extension

So let’s say you extend Colombia stay for 90 days, and then want to go to that yoga retreat in Costa Rica for a couple of weeks, where a spot just opened up cause someone canceled.

Or maybe that Shaman in Iquitos(Peru) finally decided that you and your digital nomad partner are ready for that Ayahuasca package deal available for a limited time.

Or whatever.

The point is if you leave Colombia within the extension period, and then want to come back, you will be fine as long as you have some days left out of your 90 days of extension.

At immigration, they will usually count the number of days left. On very rare occasions, an official might make a mistake and give you 90 days again but don’t count on that.

Updates on Colombia Visa Extension

“How to extend a Colombia tourist visa?” is a common question asked by expats and tourists in Colombia. That being said, the visa processes change frequently in Colombia.

If you experience something different than the Colombian tourist visa extension process outlined above, please let us know in the comments below. We intend to keep all of our visa articles up-to-date.

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About Deb Pati

Deb Pati is the founder of The Visa Project. He has lived and traveled in many countries. When he is not travelling, he is either working or writing.

Reader Interactions

January 22, 2021 at 10:17 pm

Thanks dude. This was exactly what I was looking for.

January 23, 2021 at 2:11 pm

I received the unique application number from migración Colombia, but didn’t receive a confirmation email ! I’m a bit worried, my correct email was used.

January 23, 2021 at 2:14 pm

Sorry, just read your other section on what to do if no email received.

January 23, 2021 at 4:48 pm

Hey Liam. Glad you could find it. Let me know how it went.

January 26, 2021 at 2:25 pm

Hi Liam, I filled out the application form yesterday morning and also have not received any confirmation email. Did you eventually receive an email from them? I’m a bit worried too as I left the whole thing to the last minute!

January 26, 2021 at 7:01 pm

Lots of expats are reporting this issue. Due to COVID, things are taking much longer. Do check your spam folder and do note down your case number. Make sure that you are not missing any important docs like the onward flight.

February 2, 2021 at 12:53 pm

Hi, in the end I went to the Migración office. Was many people having the same problems waiting outside. They told me they have the application, however, It’s still being processed. I have to go back Friday if I still haven’t received an email from them. It’ss been over 3 weeks since sending my application.

February 2, 2021 at 1:05 pm

No, I’m still waiting. As said on a previous comment just posted. I had to go to migración. They have the application, but still no reply 3 weeks later. Will return Friday again and see what they say.

July 21, 2021 at 11:46 pm

So im having the same issue. how did you go?

Any advice.. I have just over a week to expiry.

January 26, 2021 at 4:56 pm

One week and nothing

January 28, 2021 at 10:43 pm

I have submitted successfully my visa extension application on 21-jan-2021 and my visa is expired on 27-jan-2021 and i have not received any confirmation email from immigration office and there is not schedule of appointment before my visa expiry date and please advice me what should i do i have visited three time to immigration office and they are required appointment to process further while i do not pay the visa extension fees do i pay visa extension fees without confirmation of email please advise me what should i do ?

January 29, 2021 at 11:29 am

Hi Shahzad, Seems like a lot of people are facing the same issue. These things are happening due to the COVID situation. You can try to email them and wait.

February 2, 2021 at 12:59 pm

Hi, really need to go to a migración office. Impossible booking an appointment online for some reason. I went and explained the situation that website isn’t allowing online appointments. They eventually let me in. I’m still trying to get my extension, but feel calmer knowing they have my application. On a side note, they really don’t seem very well organised !!

March 30, 2021 at 7:42 pm

Hi Deb – do you know about scenarios when someone applied for their 90-day extension after their original 90 days had expired? I’m planning to go straight to the Migracion office, but I’m worried they’ll only give me 15 days to stay (that’s what I’ve heard). Do you know more about this scenario and what the outcomes are? I’m planning to stay until May, which would be toward the end of 180 days here, so I’m hoping they won’t make me leave.

March 31, 2021 at 4:45 pm

Hi Melanie, Since you are past the 90 days limit, you can leave the country and come back. You would probably need to pay an overstay fine. Or get a salvo conductado that would allow you to be legal for 30 days. Then you can apply for a student visa to study Spanish( the easiest).

July 23, 2021 at 7:28 pm

Hi Deb – I paid my visa extension thru my bf’s credit card but sad to say we still haven’t received any documents from them. The email that we got is only “ La transacción en http://www.migracioncolombia.gov.co – Sitio web por un valor de COP $105,000 ha sido APROBADA” but there’s no documentation attached. Have you encountered this problem before?

July 24, 2021 at 4:12 pm

Hi Vanieza, Yes. At least you got an email. People don’t even get that email sometimes. 🙂

July 26, 2021 at 3:15 pm

Yes, but how long did you receive an email after you PAID the fee with the magic words “con exito” since we never received that email after processing the payments.

July 26, 2021 at 6:05 pm

The next day. But since the COVID hit, lots of expats have faced this issue. Please refer the section on what to do when you don’t receive an email.

July 24, 2021 at 5:00 pm

Hi, thank you for this post! It’s amazing and I am just about to follow all the steps. I have a question tho. If I extended my visa for 180 days but will leave let’s say to Guatemala for a month before the whole 180 days expires. Can I use the remaining days of my visa after my Guatemala trip? Thanks 🙂

July 25, 2021 at 2:23 pm

Hi Pati, Thanks for stopping by. Yes, you can use the remaining days. You don’t lose the days when you leave.

July 25, 2021 at 9:51 pm

we submitted the application now for extension. I assumed that since today is Sunday, hopefully we will be receiving an email tomorrow..

All the best Lex.

July 27, 2021 at 1:08 am

We never get any email 🙁

July 28, 2021 at 9:30 pm

we just received an email with the username and password and that we both need to pay 105,000cop. he is a UK citizen though but i wonder why he needs to pay too?

July 29, 2021 at 12:21 pm

Technically UK is not a part of the EU anymore, right? That’s what I thought.

July 29, 2021 at 7:09 pm

that’s what I thought too. maybe that’s the reason why we have to pay. Can I ask, his visa will end on AUgust 21 and mine is on August 31 but we already have the pre approval email. if we pay now, how long before we received an email of extension and will that start from the day our visa runs out? thanks!

August 1, 2021 at 1:44 pm

The extension starts only after your current limit runs out. So even if you receive the email before that, that is totally fine.

August 12, 2021 at 8:36 pm

Thanks so much. We both paid 105,000 cop. the payment went through. May I ask how long it usually takes for the PDF email? thanks a lot!

August 11, 2021 at 4:03 pm

Hey, thank you it was very helpful i however have a question. I applied 6 days ago and never received any email, confirmation of application, nada. Should I be worried? Or should I resend the application in case it didn’t go through? Thanks

August 12, 2021 at 8:37 pm

May I ask what documents did you attached?

Honestly, I only attached my passport copy and pic of my entry stamp in Colombia.

I got the email after 2 days.

August 18, 2021 at 6:12 pm

Thanks man! Just did mine and this made the process super easy. Much gratitude 🙏

August 19, 2021 at 2:08 pm

Happy to help, Blair.

September 1, 2021 at 12:51 am

Thank you for this article. Question, if i extend my tourist visa in October after my initial 90 days expire, and I get another 90 days and hit the max of 180 days, does this max reset in 2022 wherein I can apply for another 180 days? Thank you!

September 1, 2021 at 5:05 pm

Hi Kami, You get 180 days in a calendar year. The limit starts from the day you enter Colombia, rather than the beginning of a year. So it would reset when the calendar year for you ends, that is a year from the day you entered.

September 14, 2021 at 12:48 am

Thanks for this info. But i just want to clear something. We enter July 24, 2021 and had 90 days, if we are successful to extended our visa we can have 180 days in total in January 21, 2022. If we exit December, we can only return in July to get another tourist visa for 90 days? Because as you answered Kimi is the “calendar year you have entered”

September 15, 2021 at 4:09 pm

Hi Det, Yes, that is right.

November 10, 2021 at 2:04 pm

Thanks for one of the most useful and detailed articles I have read. I have another question. Is the 180 days just contiguous? in other words, if i do the 180 days in a calendar year then leave to a non-Colombian city and return does my 180 days reset in that same year? so if I just leave and return I can get a new 90 days each time irrespective of how many days I have spent in Colombia in the year?

November 10, 2021 at 4:39 pm

Hey Brad, Yes, your calendar year would end after 365 days from the day you enter, and the 180 days limit applies to that duration. So it is very much possible that the 180 days limit can reset in the same year.

See Bet’s comment here .

November 27, 2021 at 12:18 am

Has anyone tried the on-line visa extension form yet? Apparently there is a new portal, but I did not see an option to extend a visa. And when I tried a search on visa, it only returned a list of articles. Nowhere on the migracioncolombia.gov.co site did I see anything related to visas.

November 27, 2021 at 12:24 am

Never mind, I found it. Google translate was not giving me a proper translation of “visa.”

December 16, 2021 at 2:28 pm

hAHAH … I just completed the process. Sent in my flight leaving on April 4. They Extended my visa until…January 23rd. I’m screwed. Thanks for this informative website. No Thanks Colombia. I will probably leave early now because Fkit

December 23, 2021 at 7:37 pm

I find that the country of birth option doesnt give me a selection. My application is rejected and I have no way of filling in that question. So frustrating.

December 24, 2021 at 2:21 am

Hi Andrew, Have you tried filling it by choosing the language as Spanish? The web page acts weirdly some times when the language is English.

February 11, 2022 at 2:19 am

Your suggestion worked! Thank you.

January 25, 2022 at 12:46 am

I just did this whole process in one day here in January 2022. As advertised I would say. It takes a little hunting to find the correct link to start the process. Other than that, the most difficult part is covering the 3 photos of the passport, stamp, and onward travel down to under 1mb before being able to upload. Good luck!

February 3, 2022 at 6:56 am

Thank you so much for providing guidance with screenshots. I don’t know why your page doesn’t come up first before the Guru of Medellin. The site was down when I tried the first time. I was very panicked. This is one thing I wish I hadn’t procrastinated on!

February 7, 2022 at 8:42 pm

The cost was raised a bit to 105,000. I applied on the 3rd of February, and I got the payment request email today February 7th. Not bad. The 24 hour turn around is definitely not happening.

I paid a guy $15.00 to file a salvoconducto for me. Don’t do that. When I went to the immigration office in Bogota, one of the officers told me that it doesn’t apply to tourist visas.

They told me that I should hear from them in three business days, so that was about right. I’m glad. I did everything you suggested above including praying that they see it.

One more thing. Google’s automatic translation of website might have fucked up my process. I sent the immigration office two emails that bounced back, but I saw this email at the end of the payment process: [email protected]

March 18, 2022 at 1:54 am

Did they make you come into the immigration office?

February 11, 2022 at 2:06 am

Has anyone had trouble with the Place of Birth field on the online form? I complete the form but then the Place of Birth does not provide any places. I tried two different browsers (Chrome and Firefox, on laptop and phone) but the same issue. All required info is filled out up until this point. Thanks.

February 11, 2022 at 8:15 pm

Hi William, Have you tried filling the form by choosing the language as Spanish and then checking the Spanish name for your country in the dropdown list?

March 25, 2023 at 7:45 am

If you restart the application go to the place of birth first if the drop down works fill out the other 2 for a state/department and city; then complete the rest of the application.

February 11, 2022 at 2:10 am

Please don’t publish my last, I see I had asked this question previously, and you replied with a suggestion. I will try that and let you know how it goes.

February 13, 2022 at 2:11 am

What do you think would happen if I overstayed by 1 day? Our 90 day visa expires on March 31st and our flight is April 1st. Seems like a lot of work for 1 day. Is it better just to change my flight if possible?

February 15, 2022 at 7:50 pm

I would recommend changing the flight, but I know people who were able to reason with the immigration for an overstay of a couple of days or paid some fine.

February 17, 2022 at 4:58 pm

thanks. Turns out the earlier flight is full unless I want to pay for an upgrade to business class. Guess I’m going to renew for 1 day. 105000 COP is probably still cheaper than the fine will be for one day. Thank you for your post.

February 19, 2022 at 7:19 pm

Thank you very much for your posting. Without your explanation we could not find the property way to apply for our Colombian visa extension on line. We fortunate to have people like you. Thanks again. All the best

February 22, 2022 at 11:49 pm

Helped a lot! Thanks!

But the english version did not let me choose my birthay place, so i always got an error when submitting the form. Switching to the spanish website solved the problem.

March 17, 2022 at 11:23 pm

I had the same issue. I had to switch over to the Spanish version. Now in the praying phase. Haven’t received any sort of confirmation email yet…

June 7, 2022 at 10:35 pm

I did the same thing. DO NOT USE THE ENGLISH VERSION

March 18, 2022 at 3:43 pm

Okay y’all. Estadounidense here. I just filled out the application last night around 6/7pm local time exactly as is recommended here, and got my pre approval and invitation to pay online at 9:30 this morning. Just waiting now for the final document.

March 19, 2022 at 2:42 am

Congratulations Jess!!

April 4, 2022 at 10:21 pm

This was very helpful. I wish I would have read this before I first submitted the extension without adding any documents but my passport. Hopefully, round 2 goes better.

June 7, 2022 at 10:34 pm

Great article. I got pre-appproved, paid the fee and got the approval in a total of 4 hours.

The price is now $110 Peso.

I did not supply a airline ticket.

June 8, 2022 at 4:17 am

Thanks, Scott for the update.

June 9, 2022 at 7:43 am

Hi Deb. I paid I didnt get an email but instead got this below not sure if you can put it in your browser and it works.

I just want to know it has been approved. It looks pretty official. It has the migratoria colombia emblem on the top.

it basically says how much i paid, what it is for, the status being approved, my email, my bank,.

It doesnt say when I have to leave, Im guessing it doesnt need to say it.

I just would like to know for sure because I want to book another month at airbnb where I am , but want to be sure because once I book it is not refundable.

I really appreciate your article it helped me a lot and I did a lot of praying and the next day got an email from Migratoria colombia saying it was approved.

file:///C:/Users/Tito/Downloads/Receipt%20for%20temporary%20visa%20paid%20in%20full.pdf

June 12, 2022 at 7:34 am

Glad to know it all worked out, Tito.

June 23, 2022 at 3:53 am

Hey Deb and everyone here, thanks for the article and commentary. I just applied and got the confirmation email. I expect everything to go fine tbh. I just wonder if they even really know how long I have left or have been here. I’ve literally traveled back and fourth for the last 3 months and every time they stamp my passport for 90 days.

July 16, 2022 at 6:00 pm

Does anybody know what type of document is required for “Documento emitido por autoridad judicial o administrativa donde se requiera al solicitante para aclarar situación personal.” ?

Does that refer to proof of your personal economic situation?

Thanks so much!

July 19, 2022 at 3:18 pm

In a word, this article is EXCELLENT!

July 20, 2022 at 3:09 am

Thanks Lou.

July 26, 2022 at 5:54 pm

I’ll add my experience here in case it’s helpful for anyone else. My girlfriend and I both submitted our visa extensions on the same day and both received the confirmation emails with the login info. She received a payment link the next day but I never received mine after 2 weeks. My application was stuck in approved but not paid status. I decided to try the same payment link she had but with my login credentials and it allowed me to make the payment. About an hour later I received the signed pdf of the visa extension.

My girlfriend had another problem, she paid and the status changed to paid but not payment approved. The same time I did my payment we tried another payment on hers and the 2nd payment made the visa extension and the status changed. For some reason the first payment did not change the status even though we got charged on the credit card.

July 28, 2022 at 7:03 am

Hi Jay, Thanks for this comment. I hope some day they would fix all these payment issues. I am sure it would be helpful to others.

August 17, 2022 at 11:14 pm

No problem, happy to help. Thanks for writing the original article, it was very helpful

For extra context, here is the link I used to make the payment. I only had access to it because my girlfriend received it. I know it’s pretty hard to find if they don’t send it to you, I was lucky because my girlfriend received it. Let me just note that on the website my application status said approved but not paid so all I needed was to pay so this link worked in my situation. It may be different in other situations

https://apps.migracioncolombia.gov.co/registro/public/numeroGenerado.jsf

July 28, 2022 at 7:52 pm

Please help: My 90 days are up this Saturday, July 30. I applied for an extension online on Monday, but have only received a confirmation email (no approval or payment email). I went to the immigration office in Medellin this morning to finish it in person but they wouldn’t let me. 3 different receptionists told me that I must wait for my approval email and that they are backed up right now. They said even if my visa expires on Saturday, not to worry because I submitted an application and that’s all that matters. But it still scares me to stay in the country on an expired visa, especially if there is a fine.

What would you suggest doing? Should I go back to the office again tomorrow? Or wait until next Monday to see if the approval email arrives, and then go in person if it doesn’t? Book a last-minute flight out of the country?

July 29, 2022 at 9:46 am

Hi Chelsea, I understand your frustration. Check Jay’s comment here if it could help you : https://thevisaproject.com/experience/extend-colombia-tourist-visa-online/#comment-3117 .

I would not recommend overstaying in Colombia. The fines can be too high and arbitrary depending on the migración . One great option is to apply for Salvo Conductado. See if you can get one for 30 days. That would buy you a lot of time.

September 28, 2022 at 10:50 pm

Thank you very much for the information.

Do you know if we can simply leave the country for a couple of days and return, renewing the 90 days? Your article seemed to indicate ‘no’, but I wanted to confirm.

September 30, 2022 at 7:32 am

Hi Andy, In my opinion, it would be easier and cheaper to get the extension. And you could get 90 more days by doing a border run if you have not exceeded the 180 days in a calendar year.

September 30, 2022 at 6:05 pm

Thank you for the reply!

I have been having problems with the Migracion website. It doesn’t have my city of birth in the drop-down. I tried it in English and Spanish, to no avail. I would rather just go to Ecuador or something for a couple of days than sit in the Migracion office all day.

So, I was hoping to do a border run at about day 70, because I need a total of 150 days in Colombia.

I’m worried that they will just honor my original 90 day visa upon returning, instead of granting me an extra 90 days.

Should I do a border run at day 90 to make sure I get an extra 90 days?

Thank you very much!

October 2, 2022 at 12:02 pm

Hi Andy, I understand. Usually, they would grant you extra 90 days. Just to make sure, better leave a day or 2 before the 90 days run out and re-enter. If your city of birth does not appear in the drop-down, you could choose your country.

Cheers, Deb

October 21, 2022 at 8:12 pm

I (EU citizen) spend 90 days in Colombia from May 7th until August 5th. I never extended the visa and just left to Ecuador.

I am now planning a trip with some friends end of November to Colombia. Do I need to submit for anything before I take my flight to Colombia or can I just go and will my entry be granted since I’m not over my 180 days in a calendar year?

With all the visa extension answers I’m a bit puzzled with my case. Thanks a lot for your thoughts.

October 23, 2022 at 5:55 am

Hi Quintin, Yes, it should not be an issue since you have not exceeded the 180-day limit.

November 13, 2022 at 3:55 am

Curious about this, as this is giving me some stress. My Colombian girlfriend and I spent about 83 days between April and June in Colombia in 2022.

During this trip we took a short trip for 5 days to Curacao. Upon return the immigration officer stamped my passport with the remaining 25 days I had left of my original 90 days.

Upon exiting Colombia, the (surprisingly friendly!) immigration officer told us that if I were to return later in the year, I would only have 7 days left. And that I would need to file for an extension.

We are now going back at the end of November, and intend to stay until February.

Can I expect to get a new 90 day stamp upon arrival? While 7 days should in theory be enough to file for the extension it seems quite short, in case something goes wrong…?

As per comments above, why are some people just getting restamped 90 days upon re-entry? And why do some have to file for the extension? Is this mostly random?

November 15, 2022 at 6:39 am

Hi Charles, I didn’t get the part about 25 days remaining out of 90 days and spending 83 days. It doesn’t add up. There are 2 possibilities now. Most probably, you will get 90 days when you reenter. There is a little chance that if you have not consumed the 90 days given to you initially, then they will give you 7 days and you will need to file for an extension asap.

I wouldn’t say that the stampng is random. I have heard of reports of 30-day or 60-day stamps. This depends on how long you have stayed in Colombia.

November 17, 2022 at 2:49 am

Very complete article. Thanks for all the effort. One thing is not clear to me, though. Could most of these problems be avoided if you applied for the extension as soon as you first entered the country (starting out your calendar-year boundary), if you knew you were going to stay 180?

November 18, 2022 at 9:17 am

Hi Ronmon, Yes, applying asap does make sense due to all kinds of technical issues that always pop up.

November 18, 2022 at 4:07 pm

Great article! I applied on Tuesday and received the application email. However, I still haven’t received any update yet. Is it supposed to take this long?

My visa expires on Thursday next week. If I don’t have a reply by end of today, should I go to the migration office on Monday? If so, do I need to make an appointment?

Thanks for your help. I’m rather stressed at the moment about this.

November 21, 2022 at 6:49 am

Hi Richard, Have you received any emails by now? If not, try sending an email to: [email protected]

March 6, 2023 at 12:10 pm

That email doesn’t exist.

March 6, 2023 at 12:17 pm

Never mind. Please remove my reply

December 12, 2022 at 1:48 am

Hi, I entered Colombia on the 22nd November 2022, which was exactly I month after my MIGRANT Visa had expired. I tried to renew it at the consulate office in London during the summer but it was closed due to the elections and the change of rules regarding VISAS. As my wife is Colombian I thought it best to wait until we got to Bogota Colombia to apply for it here. At Immigration in the airport they stamped my UK passport with the 90 days tourist visa after looking at my Migrant visa page which had recently expired even though I told him the story on why I couldn’t renew it. I am in the process of renewing the migrant visa on line but there appears to be some complications with what documents are actually required due to the new rules. I am considering waiting until after Christmas now and reapply towards the end of January 2023 when things have a chance to settle down a bit. Do you think this a good idea or should I extend my tourist visa for an extra 90 days? I have no return flight back to London. Your advice would be most appreciated. Thank you

December 16, 2022 at 6:39 pm

Hi Anthony, Since you have almost until the last week of February, I would say you could simply wait until the mid of Jan to apply for the M visa renewal. Since the process should not take longer than 30 days, you should be good. And in case for some reason, it takes longer, you can always extend the tourist visa.

December 14, 2022 at 9:17 pm

Let me add some notes from my personal experience in case it saves somebody some trouble…

I was in Colombia for 139 days in the beginning of the year on a tourist visa, then i returned in late Nov and was only granted 41 days for a total of 180 days ending on Dec 31. Immigration would not grant more than 41 days at the airport and rejected extension of the visa even though any additional days would fall into the new calendar year. They literally told me I had to leave Colombia on Dec 31, 2022 so that I don’t stay additional days in calendar year 2022!

So, now I need to exit Colombia on Dec 31 and can reenter Colombia the next day starting Jan 1. At that point supposedly i will be granted 90 days at the airport and eligible for a 90 day extension. It seems Colombia’s immigration system requires you exit the country on day 180, even if it is the last day of the year with the following day starting the new calendar year.

This whole exercise of crossing the boarder and returning the next day just to obtain the stamp in the passport doesn’t result in net fewer days in Colombia. Funny how one part of Colombian government is pushing to expand tourism, while immigration office enforces a stay shorter.

December 15, 2022 at 11:26 pm

Just wanted to let folks know based on my recent experience trying to extend tourist visa….

You must exit Colombia on day 180, even if it falls on the last day of the year. The system only counts number of days and does not consider if it’s the last day of the year.

It seemed logical to me that I reach day 180 for the year on Dec 31st, and the next day, Jan 1st, the count resets. Unfortunately immigration at the airport did not agree and only gave 41 days till end of the year. Visa extension also didn’t work even though the 90 extension would have started on Jan 1st, 2023.

Hopefully will save someone from a trip over the border just to get the extra ink in the passport.

January 9, 2023 at 8:36 pm

Hi, All this information has been really helpful! However, do you know what’s going on with the form to extend the visa permit? I keep getting a 404 error when I try to access the form on the website and that error comes up with any link associated with the form.

January 9, 2023 at 8:46 pm

Yes, seems like something is wrong with the website. Please keep on checking.

January 9, 2023 at 8:55 pm

Okay thanks! I wasn’t sure if there was another alternative link being used instead…hopefully it starts working again soon

February 6, 2023 at 9:58 pm

Man there are lots of water in your article. We are here to look for quick and straight to the point information. Not about your Netflix and cuddles

March 30, 2023 at 10:08 pm

One thing to note: sometimes if you take too long to fill out the form, by the time you get to the upload documents section the security token (most likely a CSRF token) has expired and the POST from the form will not work. Just refresh the page and do it faster. Some web developers set it to expire after 15 minutes. It happened to me on the form, I refreshed, did it again and was able to get the “cargar” button to work.

April 2, 2023 at 4:52 pm

Is there any regulations on how much time is left till your passport expires? I went to migracion in cartagena and they said it didn’t matter but some other sources say that you need at least 6 months till your passport expires to qualify for the extension.

the same migracion office told me that I can only apply 8-5 days before the end of the 90 day stay, is that true or can you do it sooner like the article suggests? I don’t want to buy plane tickets too early nor too late for cancelation reasons

April 6, 2023 at 8:13 pm

Hi Cole, I am sure about the second part. You don’t have to wait until the last week. You can do it beforehand.

Coming to the first question, I don’t think your passport expiring in 6 months should be an issue. But I might be wrong. The only way to know is to apply 🙂 And I would request you to post an update once you do it so that others can benefit.

April 17, 2023 at 5:29 pm

Ok, I will for sure. I just applied on the site and after putting in the code at the final of the application, it says. “La validación del captcha ha fallado, los caracteres no coinciden”. But I received an email stating that it has been received and it gave me a número de solicitud y clave.. I don’t know if that means that it’s been processed correctly. I also applied like 7 times getting that same error but received the emails stating it was processed. Should I continue to to apply even tho the e-mails state it was received but the main web page said it failed?

April 18, 2023 at 8:57 am

Hi Cole, If you have received the email, that means it was successful. Please wait for 24 hours or so, and check the status using the application number. It should display the information. If it does not, that means it has not been submitted.

July 21, 2023 at 2:41 am

One VERY IMPORTANT point that I don’t see ANY mention of… Colombians don’t count the way the “intelligent world” counts. If you count 90 days, Colombia will count it as 91. If you count 180 days, Colombia will count it a 181.

YOU WILL GET SCREWED if you count a day as a 24-hour period from the moment you land.

Colombia Counts a day as any calendar day that you were in the country for even 1 minute, so if you arrive at 11:59 PM on Monday night and you leave at 00:01 AM on Wednesday Morning, that counts as THREE days: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (not “one day” and not even Two days counting the extra 2 minutes as a day).

And no, my experience is that they will not let you slide by even a few minutes. Our plane was delayed by the airlines, making our departure time less than an hour past our arrival time on the 180th day. And although we were IN THE AIRPORT 3 hours in advance, waiting for a flight that was scheduled to leave on the “180th day” before the delay, the asshole checking our passport timestamps pulled us aside to “talk to the boss” about our exceeding our stay limit”! We sat “in custody” for three hours until our flight announced last call and the f^ckr finally allowed us to board, even though we never spoke to anyone else.

So please do not wait until the last day unless you count the first day as day 1 and not 24-hours later as “one day elapsed”.

Colombian “imbeciles” in positions of _any_ type of authority tend to abuse that authority.

The “exception” to that rule is if you meet someone in a position of power who is not an “imbeciles”, but they are a rare breed. That’s not really an exception to the rule as much as an exception to encountering an imbecile.

If they happen to have a brain, then they are as friendly as the general population. But “power” goes to the heads of the idiots.

Even if you have scheduled your departure withing that 180 day window, if the flight is delayed to the next day, then you _could_ encounter an asshole like we did.

And no, I’m not just a disgruntled tourist. I have lived in Colombia now for over 4 years and “stupidity” is the general order of the day. If you know how to “manage” a child and can make them feel good about themselves, then they might give you what you want. So be sure to “praise” them and their 60-80 IQ before you attempt to “reason” with them, because there is no reasoning, there is only their “childish emotions”.

Treat every Colombian as you would treat a 6-year old and you’ll be fine. You’ll be their best friend as long as they feel that you love them like your family.

Don’t try to reason with them. Simply “appeal to their authority” and ask them to help you.

The average IQ in Colombia is 83. The Average IQ of a Colombian in a position of authority is 10 points lower! They hit their own level of incompetence much more easily here. (The Peter Principle)

July 23, 2023 at 9:29 pm

Wow Daniel!! That’s quite an ordeal!! Glad that you were able to catch the flight.

August 30, 2023 at 4:11 pm

Found your website. The best one on here by miles. Very clear for an incompetent, barely Spanish speaking senior. Thank you. Just to put everyone’s mind to rest with my experience as I was panicking reading the comments. I started with the English version of the website, it doesn’t work. Switched to Spanish and asked for help with translation from the receptionist at the hostel. All the boxes worked for the UK. And make sure they’re all filled in, apart from the ones that don’t need to be. Photographed my passport picture and stamp with a iPhone, condensed them to under 1 MB, popped a bestonwardticket.com flight for 12 bucks in there for good measure and pressed the button. Got a confirmation instantly with the number etc. Approval the next day with payment link, paid with my UK credit card COP125,000 no problems. Received my 3 month extension in a pdf later on the same day to store on my phone or print off. Worked like a breeze, no stress inducing terror, no faff, very smooth. Thank you Colombia. Now I can head off to the beach to become a beach bum. Ta.

September 5, 2023 at 6:24 am

Thanks Kate for the update. Glad it worked out for you.

September 5, 2023 at 5:55 am

I entered Colombia on July 5 and yesterday I applied to get my 90 days extension. If it goes through I`ll have 180 days in Colombia and will have to leave the country by January 1st 2024.

So if I leave the country before new years and let’s say celebrate it in Mexico and come back in the beginning of January 2024 will I get a new 90 day periode since the year changed?

September 5, 2023 at 6:30 am

Hi Allan, No I don’t think so. You would need to wait for the 180 days cooling period from 1st Jan 2024.

September 6, 2023 at 5:09 am

ok, so it doesn’t reset by new year? I thought it was 180 days from 1st jan to 31st dec. So I was hoping when the new year starts it’ll reset everything and I could get another 90 days. hmm…

So I sent my application yesterday and got the email that they’ve registered it, but nowhere in that email it says that they’ll have to issue a decision in 24hours. So I wait couple of days and if no confirmation email then go to migracion office here in Bogota? I`m from a European country so I would either get it approved or not, right? no email for payment and stuff like that.

September 7, 2023 at 4:00 pm

No it does not. It is counted from the day you enter always, and they add up the days you have been. When you complete 180 days, they reset it. https://thevisaproject.com/experience/extend-colombia-tourist-visa-online/#comment-1589

Payment and email seem to still plague the system unfortunately. Maybe this helps : https://thevisaproject.com/experience/extend-colombia-tourist-visa-online/#comment-3117

September 12, 2023 at 9:37 pm

Thank you so much Deb! I went there to ask about it and they told me to just wait :/ do you think it’s reasonable? my 90 days are ending on September 25th

September 11, 2023 at 7:47 pm

Hi there! I applied for the extension on September 6th and still haven’t received any approval or payment link. I received only confirmation with the number. Tried to call them and email but it didn’t work. Do you think it’s reasonable going there tomorrow without the appointment etc? What’s the exact address in Bogota? Also if i entered on 15th May this year and been laving and coming back it will reset only next May right? Also my 90 days are gonna expire on 25th of September (pretty soon) if i leave before and come back they will let me in because i don’t exceed 180 days? If there will be no updates about my case with the extension Thank you for the helpful article!

September 14, 2023 at 9:11 pm

Hi Alex, Yes, this seems to be a common issue. I believe you have already been there, so now you could wait. Have you tried everything that I have mentioned in the section What to Do When There are Payment Issues?

Please keep us updated if any of those options does the trick. Deb

September 15, 2023 at 12:31 pm

Hello, do you know if this option of visa extension is available for tourist e-Visa too? Many Thanks!

September 16, 2023 at 8:54 pm

It might be possible. But not through this channel online. You can check with the cancilleria.

September 19, 2023 at 8:51 pm

I have a question for you. I am a citizen of the United States. I entered Colombia on September 1st. I plan to stay in the country until October 26th, at which point I will return to the United States for a wedding. I plan to fly back to Colombia on October 30th. My plan is to remain in Colombia until December 20th, at which point I will fly back to the United States for Christmas and the New Year. Since I will be in the country for more than 90 consecutive days, I know that I will need to extend my tourist visa, and I plan to do that online while in Colombia in November.

I plan to return to Colombia on January 5th of next year to enroll in Spanish courses at a university in Medellín (EAFit). I want to study Spanish at the university until early May of 2024. My question for you is this: will I need to obtain a student visa in order to return to Colombia in January? Or will my tourist visa enable me to stay in Colombia without a problem between January – May 2024? A related question: Is the tourist visa valid for 180 days in a calendar year? Or is it valid for 180 days within a 365 day period? I have seen some conflicting information on this subject.

Thanks in advance,

September 24, 2023 at 9:03 pm

Hi Karlton, Yes, you will need a student visa and I don’t it is hard to get one. The university can help you with the paperwork. You can apply for it when you are under the extension.

And no it is 180 days in a calendar year.

All the best, Deb

October 15, 2023 at 6:20 pm

Nice job. This is my fifth stay as a tourist in Colombia over the last nineteen years but first time in five years. I sadly was not surprised to see the fee skyrocket by almost ten times to thirty dollars.

January 1, 2024 at 7:44 pm

My Colombian visa was rejected, what should I do now?

January 22, 2024 at 3:32 pm

You can apply again after 6 months.

January 24, 2024 at 4:45 pm

Thanks for this very helpful guide!

How long does it take to get an approval? I have paid and have now been waiting 7 days for my final approval. Does anyone have a working email address to chase this?

Second question, my visa expires in 3 days, so if I haven’t heard back, can I do a visa run, e.g go to Panama for a week and then if I come back to Colombia will I get another 90 days?

February 1, 2024 at 4:59 pm

Hi Emily, Have you had any luck calling the numbers I have provided? Did your payment go through? You can reach [email protected] if it did not.

You can expect to get 90 days after the visa run.

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How to Extend Your Colombian Tourist Visa

• Digital Nomads
• Family Trips
• Female Traveler
• Plan Your Trip

TLDR? You can fill out an online form to renew your tourist visa for up to 180 days in a calendar year.

So, you’ve fallen in love with life as a digital nomad in Medellin, Colombia. Or, maybe you’ve met someone, or spotted a fantastic business opportunity in the city.

Whatever it is that’s making you reluctant to get back on a plane and head back to the cold in London or New York , we’re not surprised. 

You’re definitely not the first person to want to extend your stay 90-day stay in Colombia.

So, if you’re looking to extend your stay, we’ve got you covered. Let’s take a look at how to extend your tourist visa .

The Standard Tourist Visa

Visitors from over 90 countries can enter Colombia without a visa and receive instead a stamp in their passport booklet. These stamps are tourist permits that allow them to stay for up to 180 days as a tourist. 

Now, while we’re not going to list out all 90 countries, it does pay to know a few of the top countries. These include:

• New Zealand
• South Korea
• The United Kingdom
• The United States

Remember, even if you think you qualify, it’s a good idea to check. After all, you don’t want to travel to Medellin only to be turned away at immigration!

Receiving Your Tourist Permit

If you’re from one of the eligible countries, you’ll get your tourist visa upon arrival. This will let you stay in Colombia for between 30 and 90 days. 

Keep in mind that the number of days first issued is at the discretion of each immigration official. More often than not, the time period is 90 days. 

If your original permit is due to run out and you want to extend your stay as a tourist that’s not a problem. Under Colombian law , you are allowed to remain in Colombia as a tourist for up to 180 days in a calendar year (January 1 to December 31). 

Covid-19 and Immigration Permits

The covid-19 pandemic has caused a lot of turmoil. However, it’s also brought about some positive things.

For one thing, it’s made it easier to extend your stay. Let’s take a look at a few ways that’s become the case.

No In-Person Visits

Firstly, you no longer have to visit one of the migration offices to extend your stay . Thanks to covid-19, it’s now possible to extend your tourist visa online .

Lengthier Stays

Secondly, the health crisis and complications resulting from travel restrictions being enforced on arrivals and departures to certain countries have impacted visas.

Thanks to these circumstances, Colombian immigration authorities have relaxed the way they enforce the number of days visitors are allowed to stay in the country without incurring a fine.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Extend Your Visa

To ensure you avoid any possibility of problems on departure, you’ll have to make sure you don’t outstay your visa. If you intend to outstay the number of days stamped in your passport, you’ll need to apply for an extension.

Luckily, this is pretty easy to do. Here’s what you’ll need to do to extend your visa.

Step One: Visit the Immigration Website

In the past, if you wanted to keep exploring Medellin you’d have to go to an immigration office in person. Now, however, all you have to do is get online.

To renew your visa, you’ll need to visit the Colombian Immigration Authority’s official website . From there, you’ll need to select Formulario Único de Trámites (FUT).

Next, select the option “Permiso Temporal de Permanencia para Prorrogar Permanencia” .

Struggling with the Spanish? We don’t blame you. While you’re staying here longer anyway, try checking out some of the city’s language exchange meetups .

These can be great jumping-off points for improving your Spanish for situations like this one!

Step Two: Upload Your Documents

Once you’ve started your application, you’ll need to upload some documents. This includes:

• Copy of the page of your current passport with your personal data/photo.
• The page with your valid Colombia tourist permit stamp/entry stamp.
• Proof of onward travel. You will need to have a valid ticket that proves your intention to leave the country. This can be a copy of a flight confirmation email. It should have your full name, dates, and an itinerary showing departure from a Colombian city to a city outside of Colombia.

If you are traveling with a child you will also need to submit:

• The child’s birth certificate.
• Copy of the page of a parent’s passport with personal data/photo.

Keep in mind that the PDF files cannot exceed 1MB (in total). So, you may need to compress the PDF files in Adobe Acrobat.

Step Three: Get Your Confirmation Email and Pay

After you have submitted your application to extend your tourist visa, you’ll receive an email within 1 to 2 working days. 

If approved, you will need to pay the $103,000 COP fee. However, this is free if you are from one of the Schengen countries in Europe.

There will be instructions about how to pay in your approval email. You can make a deposit at a Banco Occidente bank, or at a Migracion Colombia office. Or, you can choose to pay online.

Staying Longer Than 180 Days

If you are really smitten with Colombia, want to tie the knot with a Colombian, or have decided to pull the trigger on an investment opportunity, we get it.

In that case, you might want to consider converting your tourist visa into a permanent visa. You can choose to apply for a visitor, resident, or migrant visa.

Within those categories, there are 20 different types of visas depending on your circumstances. You’ll need to check out which one works for your situation before applying.

Expat Housing Options in Medellin

If you’re looking to stay for more than 180 days, it’s probably worth looking into long-term stays. There are tons of properties on Airbnb that you can rent for a minimum of 30 days.

Alternatively, there are apartahotels . These work sort of like apartment buildings, but they come fully furnished and equipped with amenities to make your stay better for a long-haul visit.

What Happens When You Overstay

Extending beyond the tourist time limit without applying for an extension warrants a fine. And you must settle this before leaving Colombia. The most convenient way to pay the penalty is at the country’s Migracion Office at least three days before the departure flight. 

Generally, you must settle the fine in Migracion Colombia no more than 15 days before your flight. Approach the staff and request for a “ salvoconducto ”. It’s a temporary permit that permits you to stay in Colombia until your departure, even with an expired visa. 

You must present the salvoconducto in the airport’s immigration center when departing. The following are the document requirements when requesting a salvoconducto:

• Your passport
• A photocopy of the passport page with your photo and personal data
• Copy of the most recent tourist visa stamp from Colombia
• Your preferred debit or credit card to pay the salvoconducto cost and the overstaying fine

Overstaying fines typically start at 1,400,000 Colombian pesos and increase based on the number of days you overstayed. Moreover, protocols also vary depending on your overstay duration.

Less Than Six Months

If you overstay for not more than six months, you can simply pay the penalty and leave Colombia. Returning to the country in the same year with a brand-new tourist visa is also possible. That’s considering the visa is under the 180-day duration. 

More Than Six Months

Overstaying for more than six months can lead to deportation. You don’t want to commit this mistake because it warrants you never to return to the country ever again. 

Paying for The Visa Extension

Applying for a tourist visa extension online works best with Firefox. Several individuals report experiencing errors when using other browsers. 

It’s normal to wait at least one business day or two after submitting your tourist renewal application. The fee is currently 110,000 Colombian pesos, but it’s free when you’re a local from Europe’s Schengen country. 

Your approval email should come with the payment instructions. You can pay through Banco Occidente online or directly at the Migracion Colombia office. Remember that web maintenance issues are common when paying for a credit card. 

For encountered problems, dial 01800 0510454 or ask for help from the office. Look for an employee who can fluently speak English to ensure you communicate your issues well. 

After paying for the extension, a PDF of your approved extended tourist permit will be emailed to you. Don’t forget to print this and include it inside your passport. After renewing and extending your tourist visa online, visiting the Migracion Colombia office is unnecessary.

The Migracion Colombia Office

We totally understand that there are still individuals who prefer to do it the old-fashioned way. That mean’s visiting the Migracion Colombia Office. Fortunately, you can find several branches in Colombia’s major cities. 

But here’s a head’s up! It’s essential to book your appointment online before going to the office. Appointments are required. Migracion Colombia does not accept walk-in applicants, especially for tourist visa extensions. 

When receiving the appointment confirmation, it’s best to screenshot it so it’s easier to countercheck with the office when you arrive. 

Moreover, because Migracion Colombia is essentially a government office, it’s closed on weekends and national holidays.

Getting There

If you prefer heading to the Migracion Colombia Office for the tourist visa extension, we also got you covered! The addresses in Colombia’s five largest cities are as follows:

• Barranquilla 0 Carrera 42 #54-77, Barrio El Recreo
• Bogota – Calle 100 #11B-27
• Cali – Avenida 3 Norte #50N-20
• Cartagena – Carrera 20 B #29-18, Barrio Pie dela Popa
• Medellin – Calle 19 #80A-40, Barrio Belen

Since it’s a government office, reaching Migracion Colombia Office is convenient. You can take any public transportation or self-drive. 

Challenges in Extending Your Colombian Tourist Visa

Aside from the common web errors or lags, you might encounter a couple of other difficulties or problems when applying for a tourist visa extension. Let’s discuss the most common issues according to ex-pats we’ve talked with. 

Getting A Rejection Email

A rejection email usually starts with “No fue aprobada”. The following are the most common reasons behind getting rejected:

• Incomplete documents uploaded
• PDF documents uploaded are not clear or not of good quality
• Necessary information was inaccurately registered in the system

If you encounter these issues, simply submit a new application by resubmitting all the required documents and the application form. Don’t worry about the fee; you only pay once the extension is approved. 

We talked with several ex-pats who revealed they applied twice or thrice before getting approved. Some individuals got rejection emails but also received approval confirmation after 24 hours. 

No Rejection or Approval Email Was Received

After 24 to 48 hours, you didn’t receive any confirmation or rejection email. Now what? 

If you plan to stay in Colombia for several more days, maybe it’s time to head to the Migraciones. Make an online appointment, and secure a printout of the first email’s code-generated screenshot. 

Several ex-pats also suggest bringing cash or a credit card if your extension gets approved and you must pay the fee.

Leaving and Returning to Colombia Within the Extension

So, maybe you decide to take a vacation outside Colombia after getting approval for your tourist visa extension. Can you still return to Colombia?

The answer depends on the number of days left within your visa extension. When granted 90 days of staying in Colombia, you’ll be fine returning as long as you haven’t used up the entire three-month period. 

Colombia’s immigration will simply count how many days you have with the tourist visa extension. 

Additional Tips When Moving to Colombia

If you’re extending your tourist visa to prepare for migration to the country, the following tips should get you covered:

• Always read and understand the country’s visa policy to prevent violations.
• Read and research Colombia’s healthcare system.
• You need a traveling mailbox. It should be where your government documents, tax returns, and credit card and bank statements should be placed in. 
• Don’t forget that staying in Colombia might mean experiencing a language barrier. This is why we suggest learning the Spanish language. 

Extend Your Tourist Visa and Stay in Marvelous Medellin

Whether you’re looking to do away with your tourist visa and move to Medellin or just want one more week here, we get it. With this guide, you should have no problem extending your visa in this beautiful country.

If you’re interested in a long-term stay in Medellin, extending your tourist visa is just the beginning. From there you can get ready to make Medellin your home, whether it’s for a full year or just a few months!

Looking for pro tips on long-term stays in Medellín? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and join our expat community to get insider knowledge on everything that goes on in the City of Eternal Spring!

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TOURIST VISA: Extend your tourist stamp and stay in Colombia! – 2023 Update

Are you in Colombia with a tourist stamp and want to extend your legal stay in the country?

When you entered the country, at the airport or the border entry point, a Migración Colombia official stamped a stamp with the date of your passport entry. If you don’t know, that stamp functions as a  «tourist visa»  controlling the legal stay of foreigners in Colombia.

Although at this point, it should be clarified that according to the current immigration rule, this stamp is a tourist permit and not a visa directly, we use that term of   «tourist visa»  because it is of greater understanding to all.

So if you do not want to extend your tourist stamp, but you need to obtain a Colombian visa to perform some specific activity for more than 180 days, we invite you to browse through the following link:   Visa Services

Download the OFFICIAL guide to apply for the extension of your tourism stamp in Colombia.

Returning to the «tourist visa», how do they control the stay of a foreigner in colombia with this stamp.

This stamp, in addition to having the date of your ticket, usually has a number with ink on the lower right side, which corresponds to the number of days you have been allowed to stay in Colombia and develop leisure and tourism activities. Most of the time that number is a 90, occasionally it may be lower, but it will never be a higher number.

In other words, can I only be in Colombia for 90 days, or what is the maximum time allowed?

As a migration rule, foreigners are allowed to be in the Colombian territory for a maximum period of 180 days per calendar year as tourists (from January 1to December 31).

This means that if you are going to complete the first 90 days, you can extend your stay for an additional 90 days.

In any case, you should keep in mind that you will not be able to be more than 180 continuous days in the country, so that has started a new year. Well, to restore the migration clock, you’d have to leave Colombia and re-enter the next day.

When should I do the extension or extension of tourism?

We recommend you start the process 10 calendar days before fulfilling your first 90 days of stay in Colombia. If you apply for the extension of your «tourist visa» late, you will lose the possibility of obtaining your extra 90 days without leaving the country, and Migración Colombia will impose a fine.

Consider that this is a request so that it can be approved or denied, even tho usually they are approved. 

Is the extension process for the «tourist visa» in person?

No. The application for extension of your tourist visa can be made completely online through the Migración Colombia platform at this link.

However, it is important to note that in case of any problems with the online migration system, the last resort would be to go face-to-face to the nearest Migration office to finish the procedure.

Step by Step

1. go to migración colombia website.

Follow this link and click on «Accede al Formulario Único de Trámites (FUT) aquí.»

2. Select the language of your preference

The platform offers two options: English and Spanish.

3. Select: Permiso Temporal de Permanencia para Prorrogar Permanencia.

4. Select the nearest Migration Facilitation Center.

5. Fill in the personal information.

Select passport as your document type.

6. Attach the following information in one single PDF file.

• Passport home page or data page.

The last valid entry stamp to Colombia that shows the four passport corners.

• Ticket with the itinerary of your next departure from the country.

7. Enter captcha code and click «ACEPTO»

8. Save the generated number and click on "TERMINAR."

9. You will receive an informative email

10. Payment

Within 3 and 5 business days, you’ll receive a new email with the payment link, the request number, and a password.

11. To make the payment.

1. Follow the link on your email.

2. Enter your username or request number and password.

3. Click on "Consultar."

4. Select the payment option of your preference and complete te payment.

12. After the payment

You will receive an email with the PDF file corresponding to your tourism extension. Make sure to save it on your mobile.

What documents are needed to apply for the tourism extension?

We will need to have the following documents scanned in PDF format:

• Last valid entry stamp to Colombia that shows the four passport corners.

For minors, the following must also be annexed:

• Child’s birth certificate.  • The main page of the passport or the data page of one of the parents.

How long does the process take?

The completion of the procedure will depend on the responsiveness of the Office of Migration Colombia. It usually ranges from 3 to 5 business days .

What record will I have of the extension of my «tourist visa»?

Migration Colombia, if reviewing the documents finds everything correct, will issue the approval of the procedure and enable the payment option. Once the payment is confirmed, the extension of the «tourist visa» will arrive by email in PDF format. We recommend printing this extension and keeping it together with your passport or save it in your mobile. In this document, you will be able to see your maximum date of legal stay in the country.

As we know, this kind of process can be confusing; at Expatgroup.co , we offer comprehensive guidance and advice so that you can process your visa stamp extension without problems. Therefore, do not hesitate to contact us and enjoy Colombia for longer.

Frequent questions

No, the remaining days from previous years cannot be accumulated:

For instance, If you spent 30 days in your last entry and of those 20 days were from last year and 10 days from the current one, this year you have 170 days left, and now, if you only used 30 days from last year, those days cannot be accumulated.

No, although you are entitled to 180 days per year, at the time of entry, you are given a maximum of 90 days on your stamp. If you wish to use your 90 extra days, you must leave the country and re-enter or request a tourism extension before Migración Colombia.

Yes, but your tourism extension will lose validity when you leave the country. Therefore, once you re-enter the country, your new passport stamp will note the days you can be here.

Since this application can be approved or rejected, you’ll have to wait 3 to 5 business days while Migración Colombia evaluates your application. If pre-approved, you will receive a link to pay for the process; the cost is  125,000 Colombian pesos .

You can check the status of your application at the following link .

You will need the application number and password sent to your email after completing the form.

There is no need to get a new stamp in your passport, as the PDF you receive in your email is valid to show your tourism extension.

The amount depends on the nationality:

• Ecuadorians: No cost.
• Nationals of the Schengen area: No cost.
• For other cases: 125,000 Colombian pesos.

The exit ticket from Colombia is a mandatory requirement to request the tourist stamp extension.

If you decide to leave the country, you do not need to apply for a tourism extension. When you re-enter the country, Migración will stamp your passport with the new number of days allowed to stay here.

When filling out the form, you must attach a pdf with a clear image of the main page of your passport, a photo of your last stamp where you can see the four corners of the passport page and proof of your return tickets. Therefore, evidence of the ticket out of the country is required.

Minors must make their applications individually. Also, keep in mind that in addition to the passport, the photo of the stamp and the tickets, the minor’s birth certificate, and the passport image of the person in charge are required.

You can request a tourism extension once a year.

No, you must request the extension before the expiration date of the stamp. The recommendation is to start the process at least 10 calendar days before.

If you request it later, it will not be processed, and you will be in an irregular situation, which may result in fines for each day of irregularity.

Do you want to obtain a detailed guide to request a tourism extension in Colombia?

At expatgroup.co , we know how essential it is to have a legal stay in Colombia. You just need to fill out the form and get this guide we have created for you, with the step-by-step to request a tourism extension.

115 comentarios en “ TOURIST VISA: Extend your tourist stamp and stay in Colombia! – 2023 Update ”

I’ve been browsing online greater than three hours these days, yet I never discovered any attention-grabbing article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. Personally, if all website owners and bloggers made good content material as you did, the internet will likely be a lot more helpful than ever before.

That’s awesome! Thank you, we really appreciate it.

Your website was very helpful in filling out the form to extend my tourist visa. I received an immediate reply from Migración accepting my application. Thank you for your explicit and easy to follow instructions.

Wow, amazing! We love knowing that every step was easy to follow and that you got your tourist extension hassle-free. We hope to help you in the future to obtain a Colombian visa in case you decide to stay longer 😀

Thanks for the easy-to-follow article! Question about the «Ticket with the itinerary of your next departure from the country.» One website on extending a Colombian Visa says, «NOTE: Some readers have mentioned that onward travel confirmation was necessary, while others said they did not ask for this. If it’s easy to provide, you might as well provide it just in case. But many people have said it is not necessary.» Any feedback on this comment?

Hello Conan! Thank you for reading and writing to us. The exit ticket from Colombia is a mandatory requirement to request the extension of the tourism stamp through the Colombian Migration office. If you need immigration advice, contact one of our specialists to help you: +18507714928. Kind regards!

Hey question so let’s say I apply for this earlier then the 10 day window. Can we do this two months in advance and still get the full 180 days? Or does it have to be right before it expires

Good afternoon, Justin. To answer your question: yes, you can apply for the extension two months in advance, but it’s more likely to get rejected. We suggest doing it right before it expires to have a higher chance of success with Migración Colombia.

Have a great day!

I did the application on the 22. April 2023, today it’s 5. May and have not heard back or received a payment request or anything. My status is » REGISTRADO EN FUT». The 90 days are up on 12. May. I tried to call but it seems you can only reach them by chat. Any advise?

Goodmorning, David. Thank you leaving your comment on our blog. With these kind of situations when you don’t get an answer, we suggest going in person to Migraciín Colombia, they usually help you.

On the 17th of January I applied online for 90 days stamps next day I got the link to pay and paid it. On the 19th of January I got and email stating I was approved but no link PDF like you are showing. My time in the country expired on the 1st or 2nd of February. What should I do wait a bite longer or go to the migration office in Santa Marta. Thank you

Hi Georgette, thanks for contacting us. If you did not receive the document, you should go to the Migration office. They will be able to help you 🙂 Remember that if you want to stay longer in Colombia, our team of specialists can help you find the correct visa for you. Contact us if you need us in the future: (+1)8507714928.

Great information and thanks for the links. What are the implications if I do not have a defined departure date so have not purchased a ticket?

Hi, Bruce, I hope everything is going well for you. It is likely that the extension will be denied and you will be illegal in the country because is the information required. If you need more information you can contact us (+1)8507714928.

First of all, Thank you so much for this information!! I saved this page on my favorites. I also read the comments here and I still feel like I want to make something sure: I was in Colombia on February 2022 for 35 days and left. On November 2022 I plan to go to Colombia again, will the 90 days recounted or will they give me 55 days?(90 minus the 35 days in February). If I understand right I can skip the bureaucracy of the visa extension just by traveling to other country for a while and go back to Colombia? Even if it’s in the same year by calendar?

Hello Chen, I hope you are doing well!. In your case, they will give you a 90-day stamp again when you enter in November. If you want to stay longer in Colombia, our specialists can help you find the correct visa for you. Contact us if you need us in the future: (+1)8507714928.

Thank you! But one thing is not clear for me- Can I stay for 90 days again? Or should I take into account the 35 days I already spent in February? Because we’re still in the same year.

Yes, they will give you another 90 days each time you enter the country again until you waste your 180 days. Remember that as a tourist, you have 180 days per year.

Hi there, we have a question that we cannot seem to find an answer for.

We are arriving to Colombia 6th April. Departing 6th June to the UK. Total days in country 61. We depart UK (25th June) and arrive in Colombia again on 26th June. We then plan to leave the country via land to Ecuador within 2 weeks BECAUSE We have a flight booked to depart Colombia again on 8th November back to the UK and we wish to spend another 90 days in Colombia before our departure.

Our questions are as follows: 1) Whether Colombian immigration registers how many of the 90 days on the tourist stamp that we use up? 2) Will they refuse to grant another tourist stamp if there are already two 90 day stamps in our passports? Or will they understand that we have not been in the country during the entirety of the stamps duration? 3) Can you bank the days you do not use in country and is that calculated to allow multiple visits within the 180 day limit?

Thank you in advance. We really cannot find this information anywhere and do not want to get in any trouble.

Hello, Rob. Thank you for contacting us!

1. Even if the government puts stamps of 90 days, nothing happens if you don’t use them all.

2. Even if you have many 90-day stamps, there is no problem. There are cases where a person has a 90-day stamp; they stay for five days, leave, and return. They are given another 90 days, and so on. Not many stamps of 90 can be targeted to deny entry.

3. The total number of days to legally stay in Colombia are 180 days. If you do not use them all, you can bank the days.

If you need more information, you can contact us at (+1)8507714928.

Thank you very much for this information Diana. It’s really put our minds at ease. All the best!

¡Gran trabajo con contenido muy detallado y útil! Ojalá su sitio hubiera estado disponible la primera vez que solicité la extensión. Sin embargo, estoy muy feliz de que estuviera disponible esta vez. Hizo que el proceso fuera mucho más fluido.

Great job with very detailed and helpful content! I wish your site had been available the first time I applied for the extension. However, I am very happy it was available this time. It made the process much more smooth.

¡Muchas gracias, Patrick!, nos alegra que nuestro contenido ayude y guie a las personas. ¿Qué más contenido te gustaría leer? Saludos

Buenas noches, gracias por la informacion, ha sido muy util para mi

En este momento estoy en Colombia como turista tengo permitido estar alli por 90 dias, luego voy a prolongar el tiempo para poder estar 180 dias, sin embargo solo estare durante 160 dias, y me ire, entonces ¿si vuelvo a Colombia el 15 de diciembre solo podre quedarme por 20 dias o se puede renovar el tiempo por 90 dias?

Saludos, Ivan, muchas gracias por tus comentarios. Es correcto, cuando ingreses en migración te darán los días restantes de los 180 días que tienes como turista para estar en territorio Colombiano.

How much it cost the extension of the 90 days turist visa? I only need 15 more days (my total stay is 105 days)

Hi, Mónica, $110,900 COP

I deleted my email with my 90 day extension certificate. Do I need to present this at the check in desk when leaving Colombia. Will I need a replacement email sent to me or will my Check Mig be enough

Hello, Andrew, I hope you are very well, I advise you to contact or go to a Migration office because you must show this document when you leave Colombia.

I arrive November 1, 2022 and wish to stay until June 30, 2023.

Do I have to leave the country since the new calendar year 2023 started my new 180 day stay?

If «Yes», must I leave the end of 2022 and arrive in 2023? OR remain and Ieave during the first first few days of 2023?

Is a same day visa run acceptable?

Hi, Jay. If you arrive on November 1st and you get 90 days on the stamp, on January 20th you have to ask for an extension, this extension would give you more or less until June 30th. Likewise, if you leave the country before January 30 when you return you will be given a 90-day stamp. If you want to stay longer in Colombia you can apply for a visa contact us and we will assist you in the process +1 (954) 799-3692

Question: In the past, rather than file an extension, I’ve just left the country just before my 90 days, then returned with a new 90 day tourist stamp. At the time I’d been told that was a way around needing to request the extension and arrived back in Colombia just weeks later free of any questions let alone fines or penalties for another 90 days. That’s how I’d been able to do this in the past, but now I can’t find any information about this. Has something changed? Was I misinformed and then somehow lucky with every single person at immigration and the airport since?

Hi Jane, I hope you are doing well. That’s right when you are about to complete the first 90 days you have two options: 1 leave the country or apply for a tourist extension. If you want to stay longer you can apply for a visa, contact us for more information +19547993692

I understand I can obviously leave before the 90 days are up, but what I’m asking is, when I come back just a few weeks later, do a new 90 days start again with the new stamp? Like if I want to stay from Jan – July in a single calendar year, rather than file the extension, can I just leave in March for a few weeks, and come back to reset the 90 days?

Yes, As I said, the other option is to leave the country and you will be given another 90-day stamp when you come back.

Hi, thanks for the helpful info, I have a question about the required departure ticket: I have a ticket already for the end of my first 90 days, as in before I knew I could extend. Do I need to change it to a later date first? Because as is, my departure ticket is within the first 90 days and I wanted to be sure the extension is approved before I change it, please advise.

Hi, Josh, I hope you are well, it is recommended that you change the date of your departure ticket, for example, if your time expires next week, the date of the ticket should be about two months later. If you want to stay longer in Colombia you can apply for a visa, contact us for more information at +19547993692

I entered colombia late last December and left colombia march 12. From January 1 to march 12, 70 days accumulated . If I come back for a full 90 days, can I extend for the remaining 20 days left in this calendar year?

Hi, Bailey! yes, you can do the extension for the remaining days of the total 180 days.

I have a question about the VISA extension:

I understand you can «bank» days when you leave Colombia and come back. I’ve already left a couple of times, and my last stamp said I have 59 days when I last entered Colombia (May 29), which gives me until July 27th.

If I leave the country for a trip to Peru on July 22 and come back on July 31st, will they let me back into the country considering I have only 5 days left on my 90-day VISA extension?

In other words, is there a minimum number of days you must have in the bank to be allowed back into Colombia on the 90-day VISA extension?

Hey Zac, technically you could, although the final determination is up to Migración Colombia.

My 90 days are up this Saturday, July 30. I applied for an extension online on Monday, but have only received a confirmation email (no approval or payment email). I went to the immigration office in Medellin this morning to finish it in person but they wouldn’t let me. 3 different receptionists told me that I must wait for my approval email and that they are backed up right now. They said even if my visa expires on Saturday, not to worry because I submitted an application and that’s all that matters. But it still scares me to stay in the country on an expired visa, especially if there is a fine.

What would you suggest doing? Should I go back to the office again tomorrow? Or wait until next Monday to see if the approval email arrives, and then go in person if it doesn’t? Book a last-minute flight out of the country?

Hello, Chelsea,

It is a risk you can take as we advise you to do the extension at least 10 days before the first 90 days expire.

If you haven’t received it by the 30th and you don’t want to take the risk, it’s better to leave the country and re-enter so that the entry stamp will give you the other 90 days.

Hello. I did apply 13 days before my 90 days we up and followed all of your instructions. It’s been 11 days now and my status is still «REGISTRADO EN FUT» with no other emails beyond the original confirmation. I have 2 days before my 90 are up. I’m in Medellin. Do you recommend I go into the office tomorrow and hope they’ll help me? Thank you.

Good afternoon, Sara. We hope you are doing well. In this kind of case where you don’t get an answer, we suggest going to Migración Colombia’s office to get an update on your application status. They will help you to get a solution to your migratory situation. We are glad to help and answer your questions. Have a great rest of your day!

Hello. This has been asked many times but I don’t think the answer is clear.

On one hand you say the 90 days get reset if you leave, but on the other hand you say you can only stay a max of 180 days.

Which is it? Can I bypass the 180 days by just leaving every 90 days?

Hi, Ross, I hope you’re doing great, I’ll explain it to you

As a tourist you have 180 days per year, when you enter the country for the first time you usually get a 90 days stamp if you want to extend it or have another 90 days you have two options:

1. Do the extension process online at the migration website.

2. leaving the country and re-entering you will be given 90 days or the remaining days of the 180 days.

Once you exceed the 180 days you can apply for a visa or leave the country and wait until next year when you have 180 days again.

I hope it has been clear to you, let me know if you have any other questions.

Hello again.

Do the 90 days get reset automatically in January?

Let’s say I arrive in October 10th. 90 days would be January 10th.

Do the 90 days automatically reset on January 1st so I can stay until March without leaving the country?

Hi, For example, my first 90 days end on August 20th. If I apply for this extension 15 days earlier, like the 5th of August, they will add those 90 days to the date 20th of August, right? Not to the date I applied. In other words, I want to know that if I apply very early for this extension, they will still add 180 days to my first entrance to Colombia this year. So I won’t lose any days of my allowance if I apply way too early. thank you very much

Hi, Samuel, The extension starts on the last day of the entry stamp, they do the calculation, so do not worry you won’t lose any days. Our best!

I am a british citizen with a british passport and I will be coming to Colombia from the UK on 20th March 2023. I will leave Colombia on 24th May to go back to UK. I return to Colombia 30th May. I will leave Colombia on 26th July back to UK.

in total I will be in Colombia for 122 days but broken up: 65 days the first trip, 57 days the second trip. Both trips for tourist purposes.

My question is: will I need to apply for tourist visa extension after 90 days (around 24th June 2023)? or will I be given a 90 day stamp for both entries on 20th March 2023 and 30th May 2023 and won’t need to get a visa extension.

Good morning, Felix,

The extension of the tourism stamp is done when you want to exceed 90 days of stay in Colombia, as in your case you will stay 65 and 57 days respectively, you do not have to do it.

When you enter the first time you will be given a 90-day stamp and when you enter again you will have another 90-day stamp.

If you want to stay longer in Colombia we will be happy to help you process your Colombian visa, contact us at +19547993692

I would like to make a domestic partnership cerficate with my partner. We are dating for almost 4 years but lived together last years for 6months and this year for 6 months. Would it affect the application result? And what are the proves of relationship that are needed for obtaining the certificate and visa afterwards? My visa expires on 15 of September, could you please aswell let me know if making certificate and visa are possible in this time frame. Thank you!

Hello, Ekaterina, I hope you are doing very well.

We recommend starting the visa process at least two months before the expiration of the legal period of stay, in this case, we advise you to start the process as soon as possible since you also want to make the Domestic Partnership.

Contact us to increase your success in obtaining a Colombian visa +19547993692

Hello Diana, thank you for your quick respond. I have tried to contact you via whatsapp but i dont get any answers. Could you please let me know your Bogota number as i am located in Bogota Best regards, Ekaterina

Hi, Katerina, sorry for the delay in getting back to you, I will make sure Johana contacts you soon.

Hello, I applied for a temporary stay permit on August 2nd. I never got a response with a payment link.

How can I proceed? I have less than 10 days left of my initial 90-day stay. I’m a U.S. citizen in Bogota.

I am currently contacting you on WhatsApp.

Hello, Bryan,

Lately, the Migration page is presenting several errors, we advise you to go to an office and take the proof that you started the process.

Hi I applied for it a week before and i didn’t get a response link as well. Before going to the office, do i need to make an appointment? How can I do it?

Hi, Samuel. It is not necessary to make an appointment, if you have already checked your spam and nothing has arrived, you can go to the nearest immigration center and ask for assistance.

Perhaps a bit of an unusual situation. My partner is from Colombia and we live together in Europe. We spent April until June in Colombia. Upon arrival in April I was stamped and got 90 days.

In June we travelled to the Dutch Antilles for a week. When returning to Bogota I was stamped again, but only got 26 days (the remainder of my original 90 days). We left Colombia at the end of June, and now I have 5 days left.

We now want to return in December, but I’m getting anxious about getting the PIP extended. Can I extend my «old» stamp from June through the website?

I read in one of the comments above I should have gotten another 90 days (that’s how I thought it worked if I left the country and I had sufficient days left) but based on feedback from two immigration officers that does not seem to be the case. Any feedback is much appreciated.

Hi, Charles, If you have not really been in Colombia for the 180 days you have available this year, despite the error in the stamp where you were stamped for 26 days, it is most likely that Migration, when you re-enter and check again in the system the report of your entries and exits, will stamp you with the actual time you have available. However, this is something that corresponds to the discretion and autonomy of Migration Colombia

This is all very helpful My friend entered Colombia 21st June and I the 23rd we were both given the 90 stamp and we have a return flight from Bogotá on 18th September we would ideally like to pop over into Ecuador for a few days to a week would we be granted another 90 day stamp or is it best to extend formally online instead of leave at the border

Hi, Gem, I hope you are super well, to make the extension you can do it in two ways:

-Online by filling out a form at least 10 days before the first 90 days expire. -Leaving the country and entering again.

So in your case there is no problem, when you enter again you will be stamped with another 90 days.

I have been in Colombia for 88 days. I just sent my extension for another 90 days since this trip will go over the 90 days and it was rejected. There is no email address it bounces and no reason why. Anyone have any ideas?

Hi Tim, we are very sorry that you did not receive a positive response from migration. They generally reject extensions if all information has not been attached or for discretionary reasons.

I invite you to consult with us about the possibilities you have to stay longer legally in Colombia, book an appointment with our experts. https://expatgroup.co/english/book-an-appointment/

Hi, thanks for the great article.

I applied for an extension on Tuesday, and received the confirmation email, but have not received a response if it has been approved yet. My tourist visa will expire on Thursday next week. If I don’t hear back today, should I go to the migration office in Bogotá on Monday? If so, do I need to make an appointment?

Thanks for your help, I’m rather stressed out at the moment.

Hi, Richard, lately the government is taking a little time to approve tourism extensions, we recommend you to go personally to the migration point, you can print the certificate, and it is not necessary to request an appointment.

Amazing blog post thank you, very helpful. I tried with the application, but no reply after two weeks, only the confirmation email. I dont actually know where the migration office is, to check on my application. Do you happen to have a list of offices?

Hi, Sanne yes, you can check the list of office by department here https://www.migracioncolombia.gov.co/informacion-general/content/31-centros-facilitadores-de-servicios-migratorios

Hello, I have a question regarding 180 days rule per year in Colombia. We arrive here last November 2021 and got 90 days stamp upon entry. Before the expiration of this 90 days we applied for an extension last January 2022 and gave us another 90 days of extension until 9th of May, but before it’s expiry we left Colombia and went to Costa Rica last April 20,2022. We came back again and Colombian immigration officer gave us 70 days which is the remaining days from 180 days of this year. Last week we applied for an extension of 90 days but got an email that we need to visit immigration office for them to validate our documents. ( documents that we attached while applying for an extension via online are passport copy, and entry stamp-its the same documents that we submit last February for an extension request) However, when we reached the immigration office, they told us that they cannot extend it but we need to leave on 7th of January 2023. We thought that it can be extend because 2023 is already a new year and should be reset the 180 day rules. Please advice if is it really like that? Do we really need to leave the country and come back to get a 90 day stamp upon re entering Colombia? Hoping to hear from you soon. Thank you!

Hi, Elle, I hope you are doing great. Sorry for all your confusion about the tourism extension. Let me explain:

People who do not need a visa to enter Colombia have 180 days per year, when you enter the first time migration give you a 90-day stamp which can be extended to another 90 days by two means: 1. doing the extension online, or 2. leaving the country and re-entering.

Now, if you are still in Colombia and you want to enjoy the 180 days of the new year 2023, these are not restarted, you must leave the country and re-enter

Hi Diana, the «year» then is a calendar year it sounds like – does that allow for the following option

arrive July 2023 and in October request 90 day extension to get through end of 2023 go to ecuador end of December 2023 enter Colombia early January 2024 with 90 days and in April request 90 day extension to get through mid-June 2024

this is no more than 180 days in one calendar year, but something like three hundred sixty days from July 2023-June 2024.

That is correct, 180 days per calendar year, as you explain it is fine as long as you are very clear about the days of your stamp, so that you do not exceed the days. On the other hand, if you want to avoid this process and stay longer in Colombia, there are several types of visas for which you can apply. Contact us https://wa.me/19547993692

Hi! I have just extended my visa and because I’m from a country in Schengen you should not need to pay any fee. I have gotten a confirmation pdf with the extension approval but just got uncertain how it works when I don’t need to do the payment. Should I still get the email with the payment link and just confirm somehow or is it done automatically if you get the pdf and you are from a country where you don’t need to pay the fee?

Hi, Anna, good morning, I hope you are doing great. When you have the benefit of not paying the fee to extend the stamp the system should not ask you to pay, so don’t worry you should not receive any link.

Good morning: When I arrived December 7, 2022 at 1:30 am the agent at Immigration wrote 58 next to my tourist stamp. I have been spending the winters in Colombia for 7 years and always received 90 days (or close to that time). On February 2 my 58 days runs out. I have extended my tourist visa every year and usually spend 5 – 6 months in Jardin, Antioquia. That said I am trying to find the form to apply for an extension. I have found your example form but cannot find one to fill out. Where might I find this? Thank you. Kevin Haley

Good morning, Kevin thank you very much for writing to us. I understand your situation, but I suggest that if you entered in December and your days end in February is better to leave the country and re-enter to renew the 180 days you have as a tourist this 2023. Once you enter the agent in Migration should give you a stamp of 90 days which you can extend again for another 90 days.

Have you been to Colombia before in 2022? I also provide you the link to the form to extend the stamp, but they will probably deny it since in 2023 the days are renewed. https://apps.migracioncolombia.gov.co/registro/public/formularioRegistro.jsf;jsessionid=24197A9A18B91DB6A98C8F2248614BCB

Hola Diana: The problem is that the person in Immigration gave me only 58 days. I have lived in Jardin, Colombia in the winter for several years (Dec-May 1). I have never been given such a short time on my tourist visa. It was 2 am when I arrived on December 7 and I did not take the time to look at the days he wrote next to my stamp. I arrived December 7 with the intention of leaving in March for a week but now my 58 days runs out February 2.

So it appears I must jump through hoops with the Immigration form that I now possess thanks to you. It would have been so much easier if I had been granted 90 days like other years. If I had a decent contact number I would simply call the office in Medellin. Thanks again

Hello, happy new year. hope you are well.

I apologize if this has been asked before.

My situation is this: I was in Colombia from April 2, 2022 until September 28, 2022. A full 180 days. I have been in Ecuador since then. I am a US citizen.

My question is this: Can I return to Colombia now that it is January, or must I wait until April to return. In other words, is the calendar-year system is still in effect, or is it now a 365 day system?

You don’t know how helpful this answer will be. I’ve been able to find nothing on the government websites. There’s a tremendous lack of information, and the contact services for Migración Colombia are even worse.

Thank you so much.

Good morning, Eric. I hope you are doing well. You don’t have to wait until April because it is a calendar year, so you have 180 days to be in Colombia again. Remember that if you want to stay longer, we can help you to process your Colombian visa. https://wa.me/19547993692

I sent a message earlier today (Jan 2, 2023) but it no longer appears on your posts so I will try again. Where can I find the form to extend my tourist stamp dates. For some reason immigration wrote 58 (days) next to my tourist stamp and I must request an extension. I have completed this process many times over the past fews years but this time I am unable to find the form to complete. I have perused your example form. Thanks, Kevin Haley

Hey there Kevin, I already replied. I remain attentive if you have further questions

Does anyone have a functioning contact email for Colombian Immigration?

If I entered Colombia on 1st November 2022, and I go to Mexico next week, 15th January, when I come back to Colombia they will count my days since 1st January 2023? Even if I arrived before 2023 and left after beginning of the year.

Hello, I entered the country on a tourist visa on January 13, 2023, and have received my work visa on February 17, 2023. My work visa expires on December 5th, 2023. However, I plan to get married to a Colombian citizen on December 8th, 2023. Then I will apply for a marriage visa. My question is: can I change back to a tourist visa stamp on December 6th when my work visa expires, but without leaving the country? And then do I have to leave again on January 1st for the New Year, or can the 90 days roll over into 2023?

Hi, Allie, thank you very much for writing to us. Unfortunately, if you must leave the country once your work visa expires so that you can enter with the tourist stamp. On the other hand, you do not have to leave the country until the expiration of the days you were given when you entered in December. You will leave the country once those days expire to «activate» the 180 days of the new year. Contact us, and we will help you with your immigration procedures. https://wa.me/19547993692

Hey everyone!

I wanted to share my latest experience—since it seems there’s a huge backlog for processing tourist visa extensions right now.

Both my friend and I applied for our extensions on March 1, 2023 (two weeks/9 business days from the date I’m posting this comment), and we haven’t heard anything. We went down the the Immigration office in Belén and met several other people who were in the same situation. The woman at the door told us to wait and said that if our Visas ran out while they’re still processing it, we’re okay.

What I’m wondering is… what happens if we applied, but we get rejected for whatever reason, and we’ve overstayed our original 90-days?

Anyway, the chief takeaway for me here is this—If you plan to apply, do so at least a month in advance—even more if you can!

Good morning Mr. Matthew. We understand that sometimes the information can be confusing, and we apologize for the situation. Now, answering your question, if you overstay your 90 days, you will be charged a penalty fee, which will vary depending on how many days you overstay.

Next time if you need any help, you can contact us and schedule an appointment; we will be happy to help you through all your immigration processes! https://expatgroup.co/english/book-an-appointment/

We appreciate your comment and thank you for being part of our Expat Community.

Have a lovely rest of your day!

Hello, I’ve got a question that I don’t see in the comments yet. I applied for an extension today, following the instructions you provided here exactly, and received a blank email about 3 hours later that simply had the subject «Migración Colombia: Trámite de Prórroga en línea-Rechazo». Is this a computer-generated automatic denial of the extension (and I could try reapplying) or is this how a final decision would be sent? 3 hours seems too short to get a legitimate response so maybe there was something wrong with the application?

Good morning Sara. We are sorry to hear that you received that email from Migración Colombia. Receiving a rejection email this soon is not normal; they usually take a couple of days to give you an answer. It may be a mistake. We are willing to help you throughout all your processes at any time. Here I will let you our link to book an appointment: https://expatgroup.co/english/book-an-appointment/

Thanks a lot for being part of our Expatgroup community.

We hope you have a great rest of your day!

Sara, Did you ever find more information on what happened? I just got a blank e-mail with the same «Rechazo» title, but in my case over a week after applying.

I went to one of the Centros Facilitadores de Servicios Migratorios. They told me I received a «Rechazo» blank e-mail due to how early I had applied. They said it’s likely to fail if you apply before 15 days until your initial departure.

Not sure if that’s the same issue in your case. At any rate it seems to make travel planning a lot more complicated. Mexico had a way better system.

Good afternoon, Eagle. We hope you are having a good day. Following up on your case, yes, if you apply before 15 days, you may have trouble renewing your tourist visa. We suggest you do it one week before it expires to have a higher chance of success. Have a great rest of your day!

Quick question about maximizing my days in Colombia. 1. Arrived 11/22/22. Departed 2/16/22 Total 88 continuous days. 47 days in New Year 2. Plan on Arriving 05/22/23. Depart 08/17/23. Total 88 continuous Days. 3. Plan to arrive again 11/22/23. And Stay for another 85-88 continuous days til Feb. 2024.

My question is on Dec. 31 2023, I will have a total of around 178 days in Colombia since Jan. 2023. Will my Clock reset on Jan 1 which would allow me to stay til my planned Feb 2024 departure? Thank you for your time.

Good morning, Johnny. Yes, the days will always reset on January 1st. You should not have any issue with this. Thanks for your comment, and we hope you have a great rest of your day!

I don’t understand the «clock» resetting aspect. In the EU, you can only stay 180 days in a 365-day period regardless of the New Year. Is that not the case for Colombia?

So if I arrived end of August of this year… my time will reset and I’m granted another 180 days after Jan 1st? In some of my FB expat groups, I was reading that immigration goes by the number of days from your first stamp (up until the max of 180) independent of Jan 1st.

Hi Christina! Yes, you have 180 days per calendar year as a tourist in Colombia. First you’re granted 90 days and then you have to apply for an extension for the other 90 days. For this time to «reset» you’ll have to leave the country and enter again after janurary 1st.

After going in to the migration office, they told me the «rechazo» occurred because I applied early on in my stay. They said one should apply within the last 15 or so days of the initial 90 day period. I reapplied later, around 15 days before the expiry of my initial 90 day period, and this time it went through (I heard back around a week after applying).

Hello guys. Thanks for creating this great platform to share information. I have one question: My tourist visa is ending on 4th May, my application for extension was registered with FUT on 28th May and I haven’t heard anything from them. Does it matter if it passes the visa expiration date and I haven’t received confirmation of visa status? Thanks in advance

Good afternoon, Jerry. Thank you for leaving your question on our blog. For future situations like this one, if you don’t hear from Migración Colombia, you should go to their office face-to-face. They will give you an answer to your request.

Hello, first of all thank you for the useful information on your site!

Do the departure tickets (ticket reservations) from «Onward Ticket providers» also work, or are there any known problems with them?

Good Morning Jacqueline. Thank you for leaving us your comment in our blog and for being part of our community. Related to your question, even though we have not worked this kind of tickets specifically, we do know that for this process, the email confirmation for a ticket reservation are usually valid. Remember that the final decision is on the agent that takes your case at the Migration Office.

We hope you have a great day!

I applied a few weeks ago using the Medellin office and got email confirmation, but never anything further. It was ‘registrado en FUT’ forever. I tried again after a few days, but still nothing.

I then applied using the Bogota office, and my extension was refused after a few days, with no further information. I went to migracion in Medellin, their appointment system was down, but the lady at the door told me I have to do everything online, I can’t do anything in person. She said applications were taking 2-3 weeks at the moment in Medellin.

I finally tried one more time using a different office, and two days later, I just received the pre-approved email with payment instructions.

Seems as though the Medellin office is having issues, and it’s likely best to use a different office (I’m guessing less popular offices might be quicker).

Thank you so much for putting this info together, still works perfectly as of now.

Good morning. Thanks a lot for leaving your comment in our blog. We really appreciate you being part of our community.

Hello! Hope you can help with this!

I already stayed 90 days in Colombia this year. I tried to extend it but never got email with answer. So, I left country on my 90th day. After 4 days when I left country I got email that my extension is denied. I want to know if I go back now, they will let me stay? Or that email explained me that I do not have 90 days more this year.

I stayed in Colombia for 166 days out of 180 days. I have 14 days left this year. If I want to stay more than 180 days do I need to apply for a visa?

Good afternoon Rah. Thank you for your comment. Yes, in this case you will have to apply for a different kind of visa. We can give you all the advisory you need, you can schedule an appointment on this link: https://expatgroup.co/english/book-an-appointment/

Have a great day.

Good afternoon,

I would like to apply for my Cedula de Extranjera but only have a 90-day tourist permit, as I arrived in the country last month. I believe the GOV.CO site states that a foreigner can only apply for their cedula if they have a stamp greater than 90 days. Does this mean I can’t apply for a cedula until I apply for my 90-day extension? From what I’m reading, you can only apply for the extension when it’s close to your 90 days expiring but I was hoping to get all of this done much sooner. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Good afternoon Christina. That’s correct. To be eligible for a cédula de extranjería in Colombia you need to have a visa greater than three months. To apply for the visa extension is advisible to do it 2 weeks before your first 90 days expire, otherwise it could be denied. If you need help with a visa application process please go to the following link: https://expatgroup.co/english/book-an-appointment/

I am considering applying for the 90 day tourist visa extension.

My question is the following: If I am granted the extension and I leave the country (perhaps for further tourism or going back home to visit family and friends), when I come back within those additional 90 days will the 90 day extension still be valid?

Good morning, Nick. The visa extension is granted for tourists who plan to stay in the country continuously. If you intend to leave the country and return, you won’t find any issues as long as you have remaining days as a tourist. Every time you re-enter the country, your passport will be stamped with the days you still have available.

The difficult thing here is having to apply ten days before your 90 days expires.

For starters if you are denied, then you have a flight for a later date that you will not be able to use, and then you have to get a second ticket unless you originally purchase a refundable ticket which can be very cost prohibitive.

And secondly, how are you supposed to lineup a place to stay for the coming days and months if you do not even know if you will be approved? For instance with my current Airbnb, if I do not book it far in advance then it will not be available if I wait until the last minute. And altogether it’s difficult to plan much of anything if you do not even know what country you will be in with that decision hanging in the balance of immigration.

It would be a million times easier if you could apply for the extension sooner. Is there any workaround for this at all?

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How To Extend Your Tourist Visa In Colombia

So you’ve arrived to Colombia on a tourist visa, but are still in love with the country and don’t want to leave? We’ve got you covered. This article will contain information about how to extend your stay in Colombia beyond the initial 90 days you were offered.

Already extended your tourist visa and are looking for viable options to stay year-round? Check out this article with information about getting a student visa in Colombia.  

The first thing readers should take note of is that Colombia completely overhauled its visa system in 2017. Resolution 6045 , passed by the Government in August and then implemented beginning in December 2017, greatly simplifies the visa process and the categories. But if you are reading advice about visas in Colombia dated prior to 2017, you are reading obsolete information. Cuidado .

The citizens of countries that have a visa exemption agreement with Colombia do not require a formal visa to enter the country. There are around 90 countries on this list, including Australia, Brazil, Canada Chile, Ecuador, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Peru, Russia, South Korea, United Kingdom, United States, all European Schengen Countries and more.

UPDATE 2023: Following the COVID-19 pandemic, it is now possible to extend your tourist visa ONLINE.

The tourist visa isn’t really a formal type of visa; it’s more like an entry stamp. It’s good for 90 days and the process is quite simple to extend it for a bonus 90 days. Colombia makes it pretty easy to be here for half the year. In fact, I haven’t met anyone yet who had any problems with the first 180 days of their Colombia stay. Although the process can be fairly quick, it’ll get complicated in a hurry if you don’t know what you’re doing. We’ll walk you through the steps to extend your tourist visa.

Tourist Visa Extension

When I extended my tourist visa in 2016, it was obligatory to go to the Migracion Colombia office in Belen, and the process took nearly an entire day. It is is nice to see that the Colombian Government has now automated this process. Who says they aren’t making progress? To initiate the process, go to this website:

https://apps.migracioncolombia.gov.co/registro/public/formularioRegistro.jsf

I recommend that you start this process at least a week before your first visa expires, just in case it is delayed for any reason. After clicking continue, choose “ permiso temporal de permanencia para prorrogar permanencia” , which is the third option. Fill out the form carefully, and, given that its in Spanish (many users have complained the English form doesn’t work as well), this will be a great opportunity for a little Spanish practice. You should know what apellido means by now, right? (Surname)

At the bottom of the page, there will be an area to upload documents. There is a file size limit, and every time I’ve used the Migracion Colombia website, my files have been too big and I have had to use a PDF Compressor to make them smaller. PDF Compressors are free and available with a simple google search, so it’s a fairly easy work around. The documents you need to upload are:

1) PDF Copy of the information page of your passport 2) PDF Copy of your Colombia tourist entry stamp (The “Visa” that you got upon arrival) 3) Evidence of onward travel (flight documentation).

NOTE: Some readers have mentioned that onward travel confirmation was necessary, while others said they did not ask for this. If it’s easy to provide, you might as well provide it just in case. But many people have said it is not necessary.

Once your application is approved (should only take a day or two), you must pay the fee for the extension, which is COP 120,000. This fee is waived for citizens of the Schengen Zone. For those outside the zone, there will be instructions for how to pay in the approval e-mail. You can pay online (I recommended getting set up with the online payments account PSE, as it is widely used here), or visit a Banco Occidente bank, or at the  Migración Colombia website. UPDATE: one of our writers at Medellin Advisors informed us that he paid online with his debit card, so no problems there.

Voilá! You’ve got an extra 90 days in Colombia. If you’re like me, however, even six months annually in this lovely country won’t be enough, and you’ll need to start plotting how to obtain a more formal visa to keep you here year-round. Although I am now here on a work visa, my second visa was the student visa, and it was fairly simple to get as well. I talk about my experiences in the following article: 

See Also – Student Visa – What You Need to Know

See Also – Colombian Investment Visa – A Guide from Start to Finish

Also, now that you’ve figured out how to extend your tourist visa and are going to stay a bit longer,  you should make sure to try some common local food , and learn some slang words that the locals use . 

Was the tourist visa extension process as easy as this article makes it seem? Is there anything else readers should know? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.

(MAY 2023) DELAYS FOR APPLICATIONS

This April, one of our writers attempted to extend his tourist visa (1 week before his initial 3 months were up). It took 1 month for Migración Colombia to accept his request. Although he had exceeded his 90 days while waiting for a response, he was ultimately approved without problem (and despite his worries).

You must submit your request before your 90 days are up. Failure to do so can result in a fine. In our writer’s case, he was technically here for a month without an extension being approved. However, because he made his submission on time, he was accepted without a fine. Migración Colombia are still experiencing substantial delays and this is not the fault of the traveller.

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Home > Colombia > Extend Colombia Visa

How to Extend Your Colombia Tourist Visa Online or in Person

Time's Up, Time to Extend

Last week, was a moment Kim and I had been dreading ever since we arrived in Colombia: the expiry of our 90-day Colombia tourist visas. It was time to come before immigration and plead for a 90-day extension.

In a turn of events as unsurprising as a James Bond escape from certain death, the process ended up being a debacle.

So now, as per the vows we swore to uphold when we became bloggers, we will translate our experience into tips to help your Colombia tourist visa extension goes more smoothly.

What's Your Visa Status?

Does your visa expire in more than two days.

You're such a go-getter. Jump to  how to extend your Colombia tourist visa online .

Does your visa expire tomorrow?

Sorry to say, you're going to have to jump down to the section on  how to extend your Colombia tourist visa in person at the Medellín immigration office.

Note: This post only covers Colombia tourist visas. To extend your student visa, follow this guide by Tellanto .

How to Extend Your Colombia Tourist Visa Online

1. start early.

As soon as you know you're going to stay in Colombia for more than ninety days in a row, get started with extending your Colombia tourist visa.

Even if your visa doesn't expire for another month, it doesn't hurt to start now. There's no penalty for applying early—the 90-day visa extension is added to the day your current visa expires, not the day you apply—but there is a penalty for starting late.

2. Get your documents together

You'll need the following documents, in PDF format, to extend your Colombia tourist visa online:

• The photo page of your passport
• The page on your passport with your Colombian immigration entry stamp
• Your ticket for your departure from Colombia within less than 180 days of your initial arrival in the country. This can be a copy of your flight confirmation email. Make sure it has your full name, the dates, and an itinerary from a Colombian city to a non-Colombian city.

Three helpful things to know regarding these documents:

• Update: Jonathan in the comments shared that he and 6 friends he's helped have had a 100% success rate in their applications by combining these documents into one PDF.  You can do so at combinepdf.com .
• To get your full 180 days in Colombia, "buy" a flight that leaves on that 180th day. If not, they may only extend your visa until the departure date of your flight, as Holly points out in her comment.
• As Dave T pointed out in the comments , to be 100% sure the flight you book on Expedia has free cancellations within 24 hours, check the "Refundable flight" option under "Advanced Options" in your flight search. Then, in the details of the flight you book, the free 24 cancellation policy should be clearly stated.
• If you have any doubts or difficulties, this post on visatraveler.com has the idiot-proof step-by-step instructions.
• For families,  there are additional requirements including proof you are parents of your children. Click here to jump down to Russ' comment  with his experience and the details on what you need.

3. Submit your online Colombia tourist visa extension application

Here's the link for extending your Colombia tourist visa online .

Choose "English" on the top right if you think "no problemo" is proper Spanish*, then under "Tipo de Tramite" check the box beside "Permiso Temporal de Permanencia para Prorrogar Permanencia."

The rest of the form is super straightforward * *. It won't take more than a couple minutes if you already have your documents ready. 

**Update 1: Some people report in the comments that the drop-downs are empty if you choose English, so if you face that problem you may have to whip out your dictionary and fill out the Spanish online form.

**Update 2: Maybe the "Expedition country" and "Place of birth" fields aren't straightforward for everyone:

• Dave T. mentioned in the comments  that he couldn't find his Place of Birth and Nationality in the drop-down boxes. He selected "NO APLICA"  and his application went through and was successfully approved.
• Alice couldn't find "Vancouver" in the city the "City / Municipality expedition" drop-down and got rejected twice. On her third attempt she found it by selecting "Canada" as the "Department / State" instead of "Colombia Britanica" and her extension was approved!

Shortly after you've submitted the form, you'll get an email like the one below. It says your application has been received and that you will receive a response within one business day. It also includes a confirmation number and a password so you can check your application status online.

Amazingly, we got a response within one business day just like the email said we would.

Unfortunately, it wasn't the response we hoped for.

3. Don't take "No" for an answer

Despite having all the documents exactly as they asked, our online Colombian tourist visa extension applications were rejected.

The rejection email (screenshot below) included reasons the application was denied, but those reasons are complete "gentleman cow manure" . It's just something the poor employee with the horrible job of having to review each application mindlessly copy-pasted.

If you're sure you have all the right documents, don't take "No" for an answer. There's no cost to you in doing so other than the couple minutes it takes to fill out the form.

Every time you submit your online visa extension, pray your application ends in the inbox of a Colombia immigration employee who does their job properly and not someone who hates their job or is spiteful that your country's soccer team beat Colombia's one time.

If you pray hard enough, you'll get an approval letter like the one I got below (on my third try). It has an attachment you'll need to keep on hand digitally or physically.

Update: What to Do If You Don't Get a Confirmation or Rejection Email

Some helpful visa-extending readers shared that they successfully submitted their application and got an email with a "Número de solicitud" like the one I shared under Step 3, but then never received any more emails—not a rejection nor an approval—even after waiting for a couple of days.

If this happens to you, you're unfortunately going to have to print off the email with your número de solicitud and go to the nearest migración office to sort things out.

On the bright side, you don't need an appointment and shouldn't have to wait too long.

Read Skyler's comments below for more detail. (Thanks Skyler!)

If you're a national of an EU or Schengen country  your Colombia travel visa extension is free.

Otherwise, you have to pay 99,000 COP.

Be Warned: Some readers have left comments to say they had major difficulties with making the payments. Others say it was easy. None has shared a helpful solution if you have payment issues, so all I can say is hope you don't have any. And please let us know if you find a smart solution.

6. Mock your procrastinating friends

If you were forward-thinking and fortunate enough to have a smooth and successful online Colombia travel visa extension you now have permission to look down upon your friends who had to go to the Medellin immigration offices because they waited until the last minute.

7. Enjoy up to 90 more days in Colombia!

For a lot more exciting stuff than extending your visa, read these:

• Did you know these  9 surprising facts about aguardiente ?
• If you're in Medellin, have you considered all of our 10 favorite things to do ?
• If you like hiking, try to squeeze in this mind-blowing trek we did that no one talks about
• Why go, what to do, and where to stay on Colombia's Pacific Coast

How to Extend Your Colombia Tourist Visa at the Medellín Immigration Office

1. give the online colombia visa extension application one last go.

Unless today is the day your Colombia travel visa expires, before going to the Medellín immigration office submit an online application and hope for the best.

If I had done so, I could have avoided a miserable trip to the Medellín immigration offices.

They had already rejected my online application twice and there were only two business days left before my visa expired, so I prematurely gave up hope and went to the Medellín immigration offices.

There, the lady told me to fill out the online form once again. I didn't understand the point, but I didn't want to cause a fuss, so I did as she asked (I'm Swiss and Canadian after all). I then waited for over an hour to be called to talk with the guy who reviewed my documents. He pulled up my file on his computer and… asked me what I was doing there. He said the online application I'd just filled out had already been approved!

I'd gone to the immigration offices and waited around for nothing.

2. Make an appointment

If you've run out of time and hope for getting your Colombia travel visa extended online, don't just show up at the immigration offices. Make an appointment.

To do so, call 018000-510454. If you don't speak Spanish, don't worry; there are call center agents that speak perfect English. They will set a time for you and give you an appointment number. Write it down because you'll need it.

3. Prepare everything you need

Before going to the Medellín immigration offices, print off the required documents (see above) and get your appointment number and the number of your online application ready. If you're not a citizen of a Schengen country, bring a credit card to pay for your extension. Cash is not accepted.

If you don't have access to a printer, you can go to one of the many of opportunistic printing businesses located beside the Medellín immigration offices.

4. Turn lemons into (healthy vegan) lemonade

Except when we go to  hike Cerro de las Tres Cruces , we don't spend much time in the area where the Medellín immigration offices are. To make the most of being in a different part of town, we stopped for lunch at Copoazú, a twelve-minute walk away.

Copoazú is a vegan restaurant that opened in late 2017. The owner will everything she can to ensure you enjoy your meal. She even asked if we were right or left handed so as to set the cutlery for us accordingly.

Our meal included cream of lettuce soup topped with sesame seeds to start, then falafel, grilled zucchini medallions, cabbage salad with a herbed tomato sauce, and brown rice as the main dish. And the dessert of little pieces of french toast covered in chocolate sauce and carob powder was the best we've had in a lunch menu.

Costing just 10,500 COP, it was so good we almost wish we had to go to Colombian more immigration more often to give us a reason to come back.

Ok, that's a complete lie. But Copoazú's menu del dia was really one of our favorites. (See our list here.)

5. Go to the Medellín immigration office

The Medellín immigration offices aren't where Google Maps says. They're around the corner. Here's a map. You can save these locations to your phone by following these easy instructions .

6. Stay calm and extend your visa

When you get to the Medellín immigration offices, show your appointment number to the security guard at the door. He'll point you to a receptionist, to whom you also need to tell you have an appointment and then show your printed documents.

Be friendly but adamant to the receptionist that they respect your appointment. We weren't and had to wait an hour because of it.

The receptionist will check your documents then tell you to sit down and wait to be called by an official. If you have an appointment the wait shouldn't be long.

When called, the official will review your documents and stamp your passport. If you're not a citizen of an EU or Schengen country you'll have to pay 99,000 COP. You will need to pay by credit card.

Then you're done!

Read This Next:

9 Surprising Facts About Colombian Aguardiente

Everything You Need to Know for Visiting Medellin

Is Bogota Worth Visiting?

Things to Do in Medellin: 10 Best, 5 Worst, and More

Colombia's Pacific Coast: How to Pick Your Paradise

Disclosure: Whenever possible, we use links that earn us a cut if you pay for stuff we recommend. It costs you nothing, so we'd be crazy not to. Read our affiliate policy .

221 thoughts on “How to Extend Your Colombia Tourist Visa Online or in Person”

Chris, thanks so much for this helpful article! I completed the process in less time than it would have taken me to go to the office. One question, as I wait-praying– Did you pay the fee each of the three times you applied online, or did one payment cover the entire process?

Thanks again!

Glad to have helped Angie! I will pray for you too, haha.

Don't worry; applications are free. You only have to pay once at the very end after (fingers crossed) you've been approved.

This article is very well written and detailed but I feel at some points you are a bit mocking colombian culture. If you don't like it stay in your country.

Hey Luigi, thanks for sharing! Believe me that if we ever get around to making a guide to renewing your driver's license or passport in our homeland of Canada our post will be as mocking of the inefficient Canadian bureaucracy as we are of Colombia's! It's a global issue.

yeah we have something called freedom of speech , which doesn't exist in Colombia. It is ironic however how you can come to our countries and receive more chances in life that what your own country offers to it's own people, o sea en otras palabras es un pais tan pobre que nos mandan sus problemas y se los resolvemos mejor que su propio estado como por ejemplo ese blog que nos informa de manera mil veces mas eficiente que cualquier pagina del gobierno. Por consiguiente, usted tienen mas derechos humanos en nuestros paies que en el suyo, y si te molesta eso, mejora tu pais, aunque dudo que lo logres

Awesome post! Very detailed and informative thank you. My girlfriend and I left it a little late and were hoping to avoid a visit to the immigration office, we followed your instructions and got approved within 1 business day. Thanks again, Jason & Rose.

Happy to hear this was helpful for you and your girlfriend, Jason. Enjoy the rest of your time in Colombia!

Going to try it out tomorrow. This definitely had me laughing. You guys are funny! hahaha.

Thanks Gabby. Hopefully all goes well and you keep laughing through your extension process! Fingers crossed.

Update: September 2018 – my application just got denied because I didn't include my return trip and I have to resubmit. They also request that documents are "scanned" and not a photo, even if in a PDF. Just a heads up!

Thanks for the update Kimberli.

That's insane that they request "scanned" documents instead of photos. I suppose their friends at the printing shops that are all around the immigration offices need more business. I'd try a couple applications with photos before going to the hassle of scanning anyways. Or maybe try a grainy filter so it looks scanned.

And yeah, you gotta provide the flight out. A couple other friends tried to get by without it and failed too. Just get a refundable one like we outlined above.

It worked! I used the Scanbot app and then just added a distortion filter in Photoshop. I also condensed the PDF just in case they got me for surpassing that max file size requirement. I added a return flight and they approved it within two days. Success!

Oh man. That's hilarious that you added a distortion filter on Photoshop so it looked like a photocopy and not a scan. And that's awesome that it worked. Congrats Kimberli and thanks for making us smile with your anecdote!

Well that might answer the question as to why I'm having problems with the online process. I'm a pro photographer and so I took nice clear photos of the necessary info and then made sure that the file was the right size after using the link to combine them. I have been told to re-send the file twice with the second time being the "last chance." I guess that I'll have to get them scanned. How ridiculous!

Here's a follow-up to my first attempt at extending my visa. After submitting my first extension attempt, it was requested that I re-send the document images that they wanted and so I re-sent what I had originally sent (which was nice clear photos converted to PDF's) thinking that perhaps the attachment didn't go through. I had sized the pictures below 1 MB and I combined them into one file (as had been recommended here), but once again, it wasn't accepted. I tried re-sending a second time (and I was told that it was the "last chance") and still, it was a no go.

After re-sending for the second time, I read in your comments section that they didn't accept photos and so I immediately re-did and re-sent the original form, but this time with scanned copies of my flight info and passport. I was then told that the photo images were too small and so I made them bigger and re-sent.

Finally, they were accepted and so the next step was to pay. Knowing that I would likely have problems paying online, I decided to go to the migracion office here in Cali (partly because it just happened to only be 6 blocks away from my friend's house). I didn't have an appointment and after arriving (and because all I needed to do was pay), it turned out that I didn't have to wait at all.

The next problem, however, was that neither of my two bank cards worked nor did my one credit card (which also didn't work at the airport to pay the entry fee that we Canadians have to pay). To top it off, the guy at the cubicle next to me was having the same problem and so when he saw me trying to pay with my card he asked if he could give me cash in exchange for putting his fee on my card. I was happy do so until I found out that none of my cards were working (and they normally work fine at atm machines and this is my 14th time visiting Colombia). Fortunately, (and I think it was because I was being really cool about it all as well as really friendly with the staff in espanol), the immigration guy behind the counter who was heping the other guy agreed to pay with his card in exchange for the cash. He did the same for the other guy who was having the same problems and so a big thanks to him! If it wasn't for that, I might have been totally out of luck. I will add that, despite all that happened, the online responses were really quick in all instances. Bottom line is that I got my extension. Btw – I had to pay 96 000 cop too and so it's possible that they put the fee up as of January 1st.

Haha, you ended another person ended up paying the immigration guy cash so he could pay with his own card? What a crazy story!

Thanks for sharing this, Thomas. I'm happy it all worked out for you. Also, way to go for keeping in good spirits the whole time. Hopefully the good karma keeps going your way and you have an awesome extended time in Colombia!

Awesome. Thanks for the input! It saved me some grief!

Very easy visa Colombia

I take it you had no problems with your extension then. Glad it was better for you than it was for us! Enjoy your next 90 days.

if you book through expedia you have to call to cancel. if you book through united, you can cancel online. hate having to call.

We canceled our Expedia booking online. No call needed. We've done it multiple times. Maybe something's changed recently, but I doubt it. I do remember that it was a bit difficult to find the "Cancel" link though.

Anyway, if you say it's easier with United, I'll take your word for it. I'll update the post. Thanks for the tip Chris!

Oh, I don't know. The wording was very clear about having to call when I did it.

I just booked and canceled online for free via Expedia with no problem. The key is to pick an airline that accepts cancellations. This is clearly stated in the details of the selected flight, or even easier, during your flight search just check the checkbox to only show flights for airlines that accept cancellations.

That's a great tip to filter the flights for airlines that accept cancellations. I've updated the instructions with it. Thanks Dave and enjoy the rest of your time in Colombia!

Hi Chris, great read. I saw that you said you can try to extend more than a month before your Visa expires with this online process. Do you know of people successfully doing this? We need to extend more than a month before but I’ve heard some people say you have to be within a week of it expiring or it won’t get approved!

Hey Max – I haven't actually heard of anyone who tried more than a week in advance. Everyone we know is like us, needlessly saving it to the last minute. According to the Colombia immigration website you can, but maybe it's not true in practice. Since it costs nothing to apply, you might as well give it a go. If you could update us with whether you succeed or not, future extenders would appreciate it.

I just applied about 5 weeks before my original visa expired and got approved no problem! (I realize this is not of help to the original commenter, but in case someone has the same question)

Got approved on my second attempt. Paid. Now what? I've gotten nothing other than a confirmation of payment? Bit concerned as obviously the stamp in my passport clearly says 3 months and I don't seem to have any paperwork to show the extension has been approved. Did you receive something?

Congrats, Chris. Did you get a confirmation email like the one I shared above (with the green exclamation marks)? If so, that's it. I felt the same you did, concerned about having no stamp or paperwork (other than the email). At immigration at the airport, I was super nervous, and when the guy first looked at my passport I could see he first saw it was expired, but then he entered me in the system, saw I'd extended and let me through with no problem or mention of it at all. Long story short, you're good!

Oh great, thanks. I did eventually get a second email with a PDF it said to print out and carry with me. Many thanks for your blog post and guidance, made it possibly the easiest visa extension I've ever done!

Hey I'm from England and the flight alone is a arm and a leg and i wish to go for 4 months

The problem being is that the visa is only 3 months (90 days) is it ok if i apply for visa towards the end of my 90 days to stay for an extra month? or is this cheating or something??

Hey Lewis, giving up an arm and the leg to trade in England's winter for 4 months in Colombia sounds like a good deal! And there's absolutely no problem with waiting towards the end of your first 3 months to extend. I would recommend filing your extension request at least a week ahead of time, though, so you can do it online and avoid having to go to the immigration offices.

Hello! Many thanks for this super helpful and entertaining resource. As a US citizen who has spent 6 months in Colombia in 2018, I'm wondering when I can return as a tourist… Do you know if the 180 days reset January 1, 2019, or will I need to spend 6 months outside of Colombia first? Gracias!

Hey Kathryn, I've seen conflicting reports on this so I looked for an official resource. According to this link on the official Migracion Colombia site (click here) the limit is 180 days per calendar year . So yeah, if that's still up to date your 180 days reset on Jan 1.

"MIGRACION COLOMBIA estampa un sello en el pasaporte, documento de viaje o Tarjeta Andina Migratoria (TAM) donde consta EL INGRESO (fecha del ingreso, días de permanencia autorizados y tipo de ingreso), que será de noventa (90) días consecutivos, prorrogables, por noventa (90) días más, hasta completar un máximo de 180 días por año calendario"

Thanks so much for the quick response! This is what I was hoping to hear.

yes, rules are clear in that regard. Maximum of 6 months in any calendar year, AND maximum of 6 months in any one stay. So, even if arrive in, say October, you would have to leave by April so as not to stay more than 6 months in one stay. But you could leave for a single day and come right back. You would then have to leave (for the rest of the calendar year) by end of June due to the 6 months in any calendar year rule.

Perfectly said. Thanks Chris, for clarifying!

Hello there, great post. I am on my extension that expires 12/29/18 right in the middle of the holidays…and its causing me a bit of stress. Do you know if there is any way, any options so or work arounds that would make it so I didn't have to leave in the middle of the holiday's?

Hey Chris/Kim, thanks for this very clear and concise post. I was wondering if I could ask you guys a question – my situation is a bit similar to Kathryn's.

This year I've made a few entries into Colombia. My most recent entry was Oct 2, by which point I had already stayed around 70 days in Colombia in 2018 (from previous entries in May and July).

My plan is to stay from Oct 2 – late March without leaving the country. This would mean in 2018 I will spend around 160 days in Colombia, and in 2019 just under 90. This means, from my perspective, I'm not overstaying the calendar year limit (180 days) or the consecutive days limit (180 days).

In early Oct I went to Migracion in person and after one officer told me my plan wasn't okay, one of her colleagues sat down and agreed with me that it would be fine.

I've applied for the extension and it was approved, though they've said I need to leave the country by Jan 15, because from that agent's perspective the counter doesn't reset on Jan 1 I guess? What do you think?

Hey Eamon, So when you arrived on Oct 2, you got a stamp until Jan 2 (or 1 or whatever 90 days is), then you got another extension with a stamp (or email if you did it online) that says you have to leave by Jan 15? They only extended you for 13 days?! As you say, the other Chris wrote above in his comment, and the migration officials you talked to confirmed, you should be able to stay a whole 180 days. Unless I'm missing something, I suppose in your case your only option is to head to Migracion to tidy this up. That sucks! Sorry to hear about this, all the best, and please keep the rest of us posted on how it goes for you. I'm sure others are in similar situations as you and are keen to learn from your hard-earned experience.

Hey Chris, no problem. I went to Migracion and one officer told me my plan was fine, while another told me that indeed I had to leave by Jan 15. So I went to a private migration agency in Bogota for their opinion and they agreed with January 15. He told me that the 180 days/calendar year counter only resets in the new year once you're out of the country. So if I continue to stay in Colombia in 2019, those days will add to those from 2018 because I haven't left the country since 2019 started.

I can't be completely certain this is correct but that made it three separate opinions to one saying I needed to leave by Jan 15, so rather than risk a hefty fine when departing in March I'll try and find a cheap flight in and out in Janaury. I'd be more than happy for someone to prove me wrong though! Cheers

Hi Eamon, I am in a similar situation. Do you have any post experience information on this? I have been reading contradictory statements: some say it does reset on the 1st of Jan, others like you say it doesn't. Thanks!

My online application was rejected the first time around, with the stated reason that I must only submit one PDF with all documents in it. I had submitted two: one with the flight ticket, and one with the passport. After combining into one PDF, it was accepted. It might just be that the officer was being overly fussy. I've since helped 6 other people with their submission, and have done one PDF with each. It's been accepted that way right away in each case. So I suggest to always submit only one PDF (which is under 1 MB in size), in order to avoid the possibility of it being rejected due to not having it in one PDF.

Really good to know. Thanks for the tip, Jonathan. I've updated the guide accordingly. Even if it was only the officer you got who was being fussy, it's so easy to combine the PDFs that there's no reason not to do so in order to increase the chances of getting approved.

Hello Chris,

Thanks for the helpful information you have posted, would you know anything in regards to being able to go from a 90-180 days on aPIP-2 student visa, to then change to a tourist visa for a further 90-180 days once completed my studies?

Sorry, Maria, I haven't the faintest idea about anything related to the aPIP-2 student visa so I cant help you there. Best of luck.

Thanks for the excellent write up! I actually did this last year in Cali and am doing it again, but I have a question that I'm not sure if you can help answer — I only need to extend my visa by about 20 days because I am going to Brasil on January 30th via Leticia and Tabatinga, and then flying to Rio from Tabatinga (via Manaus and Sao Paulo). I have my Avianca tickets to Leticia from Cali and my Azul ticket from Tabatinga to Rio, and am hoping that they will not try to make me buy another ticket directly out of the country. Do you know if they will give me a hard time about this? Should I try the online form or should I just go down to the office here in Cali? I HAVE to imagine that plenty of people leave Colombia via Leticia/Tabatinga so I am hoping it won't be a problem, even though I remember seeing signs in the office last year that said (in Spanish) that you can't have a ticket to a border town. Since I also have my ticket from what is, essentially, the same border town to a non-Colombian city, I would hope it would be no problem. Especially for a short extension like mine.

If I try the online form first I was thinking of including a quick "notes" page at the beginning explaining this, assuming I can shrink all my tickets and info to fit into a 1MB document. Thoughts? Thank you!

Hey Edward. Lucky you for being able to check out the Colombian/Brazilian Amazon. That's one area we didn't have the chance to check out during our six months in Colombia in 2018.

Just to ensure I understand your question correctly, your main concern is not having a ticket showing proof you're leaving the country, correct? If so, and if I was you, I'd just buy a completely separate ticket from Cali to wherever outside of Colombia, save a copy, then cancel it within 24 hours for a full refund. As I wrote in the post, you can cancel free with Expedia. Commenter Chris mentioned you can do the same with United and that it's even easier with them.

Thanks for the response Chris!

What I mean is that I basically have a ticket from Cali to Leticia, and then another ticket from Leticia to Rio by way of Tabatinga, because Tabatinga and Leticia are connected at the border. But there is no way to get from Colombia to Tabatinga or Leticia to Brasil by plane, so technically I don't have a ticket segment that shows a flight from Colombia to Brasil. However, any immigration agent with half a brain will know that Leticia and Tabatinga are in the same spot, so hopefully they will approve it as-is.

I am curious to see what will happen and I have almost a week left until my first 90 days expires, so I am going to send the application like this (with a very cordial and detailed explanation at the beginning of the PDF file) and see if they approve it. If they won't approve it this way, I'll do Expedia ticket thing and try again.

Will let you know what happens!

Well not even an hour after I sent the application I got a response saying that my request had been pre-approved! I don't know if this is a new thing, or if I got this because I was here last year and did the extension with a successful exit stamp so I'm already "trusted" in their system, but this is the email I received (with sensitive information withheld):

"Señor(a) ciudadano(a):

Su solicitud de permiso temporal de permanencia(PTP), registrada con el número XXXXXXXXXX se encuentra pre-aprobada.

Para finalizar esta solicitud es necesario pagar por los derechos de este trámite. Dicho pago podrá realizarlo a través de alguno de los siguientes canales que hemos dispuesto para usted:

Pago Seguro En línea: Click here .

Usuario: XXXXXXXXXXXX

Contraseña: XXXXXXXX

Pago en efectivo, tarjeta débito o crédito: en uno de nuestros Centros Facilitadores de Servicios Migratorios (ver mapa)

Cordialmente, Migración Colombia Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores [email protected] Bogotá: +57 (1) 6055-454 Línea Nacional Gratuita 018000510454 http://www.migracioncolombia.gov.co "

Everything check out legit with the link so I went there and they use "PlacetoPay" as an online merchant for payments. I decided to make the payment (96,000 pesos) with my credit card and it went through no problem!

So hopefully I will receive a confirmation email regarding my application. Hopefully this information will be useful to all of you!

I put mine in on Saturday – given it was a holiday weekend, let's see if mine get a reply today!

Exitooo! Congrats, Edward. What a pleasant surprise that your application was approved given your situation. I would've thought for sure the agent would turn down your application for not having a flight from Colombia to another country.

I, and anyone else who might find themself in a similar situation to yours who reads this, really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. All the best with your time in the Amazon!

Thank you very much Chris!

I guess I'm still a bit unsure if my extension is a done deal… I haven't received any additional emails from Migracion Colombia after making my payment online (only the receipt from PlacetoPay) and the "pre-aprobada" email I got from them is different from the one you have in your picture "finalizado con exito".

Do you think I'm good to go for my exit in Leticia on the 30th or should I run down to the Migracion office on Friday if I haven't gotten an additional confirmation email? My first 90 days expires on Sunday the 13th.

Did you end up receiving another email? I got the exact same email as you and paid but Im not sure if everything is finalized and Id like to know the exact date I can stay until

Thank you so much!!

There is a way you can buy a REAL FLIGHT TICKET through an agency fro 12USD SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF proof of onward travel – the ticket generally expires within 48hrs, and you can choose te date you want to depart.

I have used them many times to show proof of onward travel, and NEVER HAD ISSUES.

The ticket is also verifiable online with the airline!!

https://bestonwardticket.com

Thanks for sharing this Kevin. I'd previously heard either this site or another one that does the same but haven't recommended it since it's possible to buy and cancel a ticket yourself without paying the 12 USD or whatever it costs. Then again, for those who are scared they're forget to cancel your ticket within the 24 hour window or who don't want to deal with the hassle of clicking a couple of buttons to do so, $12 is a reasonably low cost alternative. If anyone else has other reasons to consider sites like this, please let me know!

BTW, I the email they sent mentions you can pay in cash at one of their locations, but that site is down – can anyone access it and post locations in Medellin?

https://www.sivirtual.gov.co/4/?formality=1008

Thank you Chris for this super-helpful article and everyone else for your comments, I was "pre-approved" (pre-aprobada) in one day on my very first attempt ever!

Notes: • My phone's camera along with the Scanbot, combinepdf.com, and ilovepdf.com combo worked wonderfully to "scan" my passport pages, combine them with my canceled flight info from Expedia, and shrink it to under 1mb. No actual scanning or PhotoShop filtering needed. • The website form is confusing and unintuitive in some places. For example the "Place of Birth" and "Nationality" dropdowns are incomplete. I doubt it matters what you select because I chose "NO APLICA" as my nationality since I couldn't find anything applicable for a white man from North America. • The website is flaky. I got an error when I first tried to pay by credit card, but after refreshing the page everything worked fine and was secure via HTTPS. • I applied for the extension a whole month before my original visa was to expire, so no worries about applying too early.

were you able to do thhis today? I have been ingoing crazy trying to get the website to wor again for me without bogging down.

Is there a link I am missing?

The one I was sent IS NOT HTTPS.

http://apps.migracioncolombia.gov.co/registro/public/numeroGenerado.jsf

The link in my email earlier today is the same as yours (HTTP) but I was redirected to a secure page before I was prompted for any credit card info. I imagine you've tried clearing your cookies etc. already?

yup – I cleared cookkies and even went as far as reinstalled different browser, on different laaptops, tablets etc – the site bogs down AFTER i submit my UID/PW with this error everywhere:

Proxy Error The proxy server received an invalid response from an upstream server. The proxy server could not handle the request POST /registro/public/numeroGenerado.jsf.

Reason: Error reading from remote server

By any chance can you open this link? It is supposed to be their service center where you can pay in-person in Medellin.

UPDATE; So, I got my pre-approval notification, and I tried ot go online and pay at the UNSECURED WEBSITE – which keeps giving me 404 ERRORS after I enter my supplied UID and Password.

This link (click here)

Gives me a 404 ERROR proxy not found – I have tried 4 different browser on 3 different laptops – no dice.

Proxy Error The proxy server received an invalid response from an upstream server. The proxy server could not handle the request POST /registro/public/numeroGenerado.jsf;jsessionid=F1F23BD3FE0F46C5A443F9D5F8D151A3.

** Remember that ugly word I used above "insecure website" This website DOES NOT have any type of security or protection from man in the middle attacks aka HACKERS. That's right, your credit card information goes to their servers UNENCRYPTED!!!

BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL AS IT IS NOT USING HTTP CERTIFICATES TO AUTHENTICATE THE RECIPIENT SERVER IS INDEED THE INTENDED RECIPIENT, AND YOUR CREDIT CARD INFORMATION CAN BE SWIPED WITH EASE AS IT I SENT UNENCRYPTED WITH YOUR BEHIND WIDE OPEN!

This is why Colombians are such easy prey to hacking and ATM card skimming, they are very naive to this stuff.

How do I know? I am a white-hat hacker/cyber-security expert.

I have no idea how I am going to pay my fee as it will not let me see payment locations

Interesting. I paid for mine on the same day as you (1/9/2019) and initially got an error but after refreshing the page everything worked fine through a secure site called "Place to Pay". Perhaps they were updating their site or HTTPS certificates at the time? I encourage you to try again.

Well everyone I finally got my "ha finalizado con exito" confirmation email!! So aside from the technical glitches some of us had with the process, it would appear that this is the new and improved (and much easier) way of extending… paying online and not even having to go to the bank let alone the immigration office.

What's more, my particular situation of having an Avianca ticket to Leticia, and then an Azul ticket from Tabatinga to Rio, did not seem to be a problem after all. Maybe the very nice message I typed to them in Spanish and integrated into the PDF file explaining my situation helped, but who can say. Either way there seems to be some flexibility with the tickets which is awesome, but YMMV.

Best of luck to everyone still waiting for their confirmation. It took me roughly 3 days and 4 hours to get mine after filing and making my payment Monday morning. Off to the Amazon I go!!

Too bad – this is not working for me…all I continue to get is the same proxy error after submitting my supplied credentials…..I have no idea what to do from here.

I am using a TOP OF THE LINE APPLE MACBOOK PRO, NOT ANY RINKY-DINK LAPTOP 🙂

UPDATE: So, I googled "Oficinas Migracion Medellin" – took my approval e-mail and passport to the local Immigration office in Belen neighborhood, and paid the extension of $30USD (90,000COP).

about 3hrs later, I got my confirmation e-mail with extension certificate.

is it possible to extend the visa in bogota too?

Thanks so much Kim and Chris for the detailed explanation! On my third try, I managed to get approved and paid my 96COP fee online.

Whoop whoop! 3rd time's the charm. Thanks for the tip on finding Vancouver, too. I updated the post accordingly to share with other fellow Vancouverites. Enjoy Medellin extra hard for us and hopefully see you back in Van this summer!

Hi thanks for all this info.

Do you still receive a confirmation email once it has been submitted?

I never received an email, but it said "Registering your procedure successfully completed, your application has been filed with the unique number of process" and has a code generated.

It also says the procedure will be done online. Anything new will be notified to the mail

It's been about 36 hours now and I haven't heard anything, so am getting a bit worried. Is there a link where I can check the progress using the code?

I need to have it extended by this Friday, as my 90 days ends on Sunday

Hey Skyler. I don't know if they've done away with confirmation emails, but I highly doubt it, especially based on the other recent comments here. Hopefully you'll get some sort of email soon, since it seems you completed the application. If not… I guess you'll have to head over to migracion.

Thanks, just wanted to do a follow-up in case anyone else has the same situation.

I never received a confirmation email, so I went into migracion on Friday. I showed up about 9:30 am without an appointment, and went in and spoke to someone straight away.

I took a print off of the 'code generated' screenshot I had too, as well as a copy of all my documents.

They told me it had already been approved and the email was sent for payment. But I had never received it.

I ended up paying at migracion (they accept card only), and then they said they would email the extension to me within a few days.

The whole process took about 10-15 minutes in the office, and I got the extension email yesterday.

If anyone else doesn't get a confirmation email within 48 hours, I'd suggest just going straight into migracion to sort it out, instead of stressing for days as I did!

Thanks again for your help with this blog post, and now to enjoy 90 more days in Colombia! 🙂

That's great to hear, Skyler. Thanks very much for sharing! Since what happened to you seems to be somewhat common, I've updated the post accordingly to make sure others see your advice in case it happens to them.

Enjoy your next 90 days!

Thank you SO MUCH! This post made the whole process super simple for my husband and me. Just submitted and now I'm praying…

Hi guys, thanks so much for this post! I want to add some info from our experience, specifically about extending tourist permits with children. It came as a shock to us when we applied for the extensions to find out that we needed to show proof we were the parents of our children. We hadn't read about that anywhere and thus did not have Birth Certificates with us in Colombia. They weren't required to enter the country. So we ended up having a family member in Canada retrieve and scan them. Migracion Colombia officials did ask that they be notorized — although ours were signed with a rather unofficial-looking stamp from a commissioner of oath, and they were accepted.

In the end, this is what we submitted for each child via the website: (all PDFs) Passport Current tourist stamp Onward ticket info (yes this is required) Birth Certificate Passport of one parent

A couple of other points to note. We received the pre-approval emails later the same day, and after paying the $99,000 COP online (yes the payment part of the website IS secure) for EACH of us (upon entry only the adults had to pay the Canadian reciprocity fee), we had the final confirmation email and attached document the very next day.

I hope this is helpful for other families!

Thanks Russ! I've updated the post so that all other families see the super helpful tips you shared. Really appreciate it. Enjoy the rest of your time in Colombia!

Thanks for this amazing info!

Do you have to fill out the online form 4 times (if you are a family of 4)? If so, is it better to start with head of household first or one of your children first? Thanks!

Hi Todd, I know this is SUPER late and not really relevant at this point but I'd like to add this for future reference for others. The response is YES. The visa application process is for each person in the family so you will have to duplicate this process. They will respond to you requesting that you do it individually. If you have followed the instructions above with having ALL the documents in one PDF it will be easy and you can just upload it each time. As I was finishing the last family members, I received the email to pay for the first one I completed.

Thanks Russ this isthe exact info needed

Thank you for putting together this article, it worked great!

My first request was denied (PASAPORTE MAL ESCANEADO) when I took photographs with my phone, but as recommended in another comment I used the Scanbot Pro app the second time and was approved. The default filter washed out the colors to look more like a scanned document. Also my rejected photos were single passport pages, whereas the second attempt I "scanned" both the relevant page as well as the facing page. Both times I combined them into a single PDF and compressed them to under a megabyte. Also the second time I named the combined PDF "Passport scan and flight info" to make the "scans" more believable 😉

I bought a random ticket to Panama and had it refunded. I have no intention of going to Panama.

The rejection came in 30 minutes, and later the same morning I received my approval response in 9 minutes. Not too shabby. Thanks, Colombia. And thank you, Chris and Kim.

Felicidades Jonathan! And thanks for sharing. That's funny (in retrospect, now that you succeeded) that you had to go to such lengths to make your photographed documents look as if they were scanned. Hopefully one day immigration offices worldwide will overcome their "predjudice" against digital photos.

By the way, and maybe I'm biased because I lived there for 2.5 years, but Panama's worth actually buying and keeping a flight to one day. Santa Catalina and Venado beaches, Boquete hiking, Gatun jungle boating… there's more to it than the canal.

Hi! First of all, thank you so much for this post. It helped make my renewal process fairly smooth when I applied back in January. So, I have a question – I am heading to Peru in April for a few weeks right before my extension runs out. Do you know if I would be able to come back to Colombia for two more months? I arrived in Bogota in October but wasn't sure how the new calendar year affects things. And would I need to get this approval ahead of time or would it just automatically be calculated by immigration at the airport when I arrive back in country? I am considering trying to get a volunteer visa before then, but need to know my options just in case. Any tips or experience you've had are very helpful!

Thanks! Amanda

Hey Amanda. I'm glad this post, and all the contributions from fellow readers, has helped! Based on my understanding and the how the rules are written out (I linked to them in response to an earlier comment), you're entitled to 180 days every calendar year, so in theory you shouldn't have any issue. "Theory" obviously doesn't help you, though. Unfortunately, that's all the insight I can provide since I haven't heard from anyone with a situation like yours. If you can update us with how it turns out for you, I'm sure others in a similar situation would much appreciate it. All the best.

Thank you for the useful information! I just applied and got an "exito" email confirming the visa extension. I also got the pdf with the visa attached to the confirmation email. I didn't get any instructions on how to pay so I am a little confused if I need to or I am fine with the pdf. I am from Romania, wich is not part of the Schengen territory, but it's part of the UE. Anyone else had similar situation?

Thanks for the question Alexandru. And congrats on the "exito." According to this page on the migracion website, all EU nationals can extend for free, so looks like you're set. I'm surprised it doesn't include Swiss nationals as being free too, since I didn't have to pay with my Swiss passport, but maybe that's just an oversight by the person who made the website. In any case, I'll update the post to mention EU nationals are free, so thanks for pointing this out.

Thank you for the information! If it helps other users… I used a fake flight ticket that I generated through returnflights dot net Be sure you use real flight details when you complete the fields. I know it is not that orthodox, but worst that can happen is that you just get rejected. It saves you the trouble of going through a useless formality. Cheers!

Hey All, Firstly thanks a lot for your help and your good tuto for the application! Very clear and well done. Regarding my application for the PIP I did everything and received a pre approval of the visa but yet no PDF file with the stated visa extension. Since I’m from the shenghen territory no Need to pay the fee however they sent me the link to do so.. I tried then to check it out but as soon I connect to the link I received to do it (with the login and password provided) I got the reply below :

“Tipo de trámite o Estado de tramite inválido. Tramite: Permiso Temporal de Permanencia para Prorrogar Permanencia. Estado : PENDIENTE POR FIRMAR.Contacte al administrador”

I believe I should wait for another day since I ve checked and payment is approved/done because of shenghen agreement. And hope that the signature has to be done by one of the migration officer If anyone else received this and solved that problem give them s a sign 😉

I'm in the same boat, except I'm not from Shengen. Paid last night, still pendiente por firmar. I was wondering how yours resolved itself.

Hey Matt, did everything turn out alright? I'm on the same boat. Cheers

Hey Kim and Chris, I'm leaving for Bogota sunday and i have a quick question. I have a flight from medellin to Montreal 120 days after arrival so will need the extention. Will it be a problem at entry as my proof of onward travel is later than the original 90 days? Did you have to show one when you arrived first? Gonna also miss the lifting of reciprocity fee by a month 🙁 1st of may Canadians don't have to pay it anymore!

Hey Matt – How'd it turn out for you? I don't know the answer so I, and certainly others, would be curious to know how it turned out. I guess you'd be fine so long as you don't catch the wrong agent on the wrong day.

As fellow Canadians, that's awesome to hear about the reciprocity fee being waved as of May 1!

Thanks for great information. I'd like to give you update that as of 1 April, the fee I was charged is 99,000COP.

Also, regarding the flight ticket, it is USDOT requirement that any airline operating in US airlines to allow passengers to cancel a non-refundable booking or reservation within 24 hours of purchase, without penalty, so long as the booking is made at least seven days in advance of the flight.

Delta airlines supposedly have more flexible policy allowing cancellation until midnight following day of ticket purchase. https://www.delta.com/us/en/change-cancel/cancel-flight/#24hour

That gives us enough time to hold on to the "real" ticket while the extension process.

Noted and updated with the new fees. Thanks SJ! And too bad the extension now costs a few extra empanadas.

Hey thanks for the article it's super useful! Just wondering if you have any tips on how to use the combine pdf site? I got as far as making the pdf but can't find any way of downloading it so I am totally stuck on the uploading documents part. I only have my phone with me so I'm trying to convert photos to pdf which I'm finding pretty tricky..

Sorry, I can't help you with that Kate. Your best bet is to get on a computer and do it because yeah, I can imagine it'd be difficult on a phone.

Hey, great post! I have a specific question. I want to extend for another 3 months, but halfway through the 3 months I would like to leave Colombia (going to the US for a family wedding). Can I spend the first half on my extension in Colombia and then spend the second half of the extension later in the year? Thank you very much.

Hey James. Man, that's another tricky one! I don't know for certain. You're entitled to 180 days in a year and when you return to the US you'll get an exit stamp, so when you return from the wedding the agent should see you have those extra days left and give them to you. Your best bet is probably to go to the immigration offices and ask, though. That or ask your friend to change their wedding date to exactly 90 days into your trip so you don't even need to extend your visa at all and get an automatic new visa upon returning!

thank you so much for the information. This helps a lot! Im about to extend the visa and at the same time Im about to book a flight back to Europe. Im planning to fly out from Ecuador. Do you think it is enough to attach the confirmation of the flight out of Ecuador or should I also book an extra flight on Expedia to have a flight from a colombian city to a non-colombian city? Ill go from Leticia by boat to Peru and then to Ecuador. I cannot find a website where i can reserve that boat, so the only thing I can attach is the flight ticket out of Ecuador.

Would be a pleasure to hear from your experiences on that.

Hey Yuri. I haven't heard of anyone with your exact situation, though Edward shared in the an earlier comment that he got his visa extended by showing a flight ticket he had from across the Colombia/Brazil border to Rio. You may as well try with the flights you have and see how it goes. Odds are it'll go through. If not, get a refundable ticket and try again. All the best. Let us know how it goes.

Many thanks for this blog, super helpful! I recently submitted my extension request. I received a refusal, with the reason being "DILIGENCIAR FORMULARIO COMPLETO Y CORRECTO SUMINISTRAR DIRECCION Y TELEFONO". The only section where they ask for phone number and address is in the emergency contact box. I was confused by this section as it only allowed you to add addresses in Colombia. I put my mum's name down as the contact with her UK phone number and left the address box empty as it wasn't starred ie obligatory. But my application was refused so it seems that wasn't the right thing to do! I've met a couple of friendly Colombians I reckon would let me use their name/phone number/address but before I do that just wanted to check that's what other people do? Also, what happens re payment, do they request this once you've been approved and then do it online? I'm from the UK so (still just about!) a member of the EU so will that go through automatically so that I don't have to pay (given that my nationality is on my passport) or do you have to do something else? Thanks :O)

Hey Catherine.

On your first question I don't know, though if I were you I'd just put whatever Colombian number and address and see how it goes. They're not going to contact them. I must've put Kim's Colombian number when I applied.

On the payment, seeing as you're still EU and don't have to pay, your application will go right through without any extra step.

Hi Chris, I used my friend's phone number/address, went through fine, so now my application is pre-approved. I've still been sent the message saying I have to pay though, so I guess I'll have to go to the migration office to ask in person about the EU membership thing though. Do you have a link or anything from the Colombian immigration service that states that EU members get free visa extensions? Just in case they're confused about this? Thanks! Catherine

Well I went to the immigration office in Cartagena and an official confirmed that the UK is NOT included in the agreement with the EU for free visa extensions (nothing to do with Brexit either!) Decreto 2235 of 24 Nov 2015 means that those with passports from Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Coatia, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portgual, Czech Republic, Romania, Sweden – and also Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland (which aren't even full EU members!) – get the free visa extension. The official had to check with her boss about it, and another UK friend of mine got hers through for free, so you might still get lucky with an official who doesn't know the rules in full!

No way! That sucks for you and your fellow UK nationals (at least those who don't luck out like your friend did). Thanks for sharing this so at least others maybe don't have to spend the time going to migracion to clarify.

On this link – https://www.nomasfilas.gov.co/memoficha-tramite/-/tramite/T1008 – it says "Tarifa para nacional de país de la Unión Europea 0.00 Pesos ($)" but I guess based on what you found out that's not 100% accurate. That page also has a link to download the Decreto 2235 that you refer to.

Question: for your flight info. required…does it matter if your return flight is before or after the 90 day normal tourist visa? I don't know if it's better to have it set before the current 90 day expiration or after that date so they know you need an extension? ie. I'd hate for them to reject me because my flight date is already w/in the 90 days lol! Read through your whole article and many comments and finally decided to just send a question since I'm unsure? Thanks for all of this! My visa doesn't expire for a few weeks but want to get it done asap.

Josh, don't bother with the flight ticket. In the past couple of years myself and my friends have extended their tourist stay with no flight ticket. The online form only asks you to upload the passport. I don't know if it was possible to upload a flight ticket in the past or not. I do know that the requirements list it, and I also understand how you'd want to be careful and not risk it because I was in your position, but in reality it turns out it was 100% not needed. You send the form, you get an automatic response the next day saying you were approved and you are asked to pay.

Thanks Jose! I have a return flight w/ miles that I can change w/o a penalty so wasn't sure what flight date was preferred (i.e. if I should move it past the 90 days to show the need for the extension). Turns out I think it got approved 20 mins after I sent it??!!! Is that a new world record??? My Spanish isn't great and I used google translate and it says it's been pre-approved and I need to pay so I imagine that's the same thing as your approval? I saw your screen shot above and it's not the same (and you say "approval") but I think I'm good to go. Thanks again!

Yup, basically that pre-approval means you got approved, just need to pay now.

Just fyi, this is the email I got for the "pre-approval". It came 20 minutes after the first one confirming receipt of my submitted application:

Señor(a) ciudadano(a):

Su solicitud de permiso temporal de permanencia(PTP), registrada con el número XXXXXXX se encuentra pre-aprobada. Para finalizar esta solicitud es necesario pagar por los derechos de este trámite. Dicho pago podrá realizarlo a través de alguno de los siguientes canales que hemos dispuesto para usted: Pago Seguro En línea: Site Usuario: XXXXX Contraseña: XXXXX Pago en efectivo, tarjeta débito o crédito: en uno de nuestros Centros Facilitadores de Servicios Migratorios (ver mapa) Cordialmente, Migración Colombia Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores [email protected] Bogotá: +57 (1) 6055-454 Línea Nacional Gratuita 018000510454 http://www.migracioncolombia.gov.co

Thanks for this great resource – much appreciated!

As another reader noted, the online process has changed slightly from the one you outline above.

I followed your great advice about combining all the required scanned docs into a single pdf, and then completed and submitted the online form. I received an email the next day indicating that my application had been pre-approved (first time lucky; word!), and that to complete the process I had to pay the fee online or in person at the Migracion office. I paid online by credit card, and received the "con exito" email the next day.

Also, the other content on your site is superb! I'll be back for sure to check out what you're writing about.

G from Victoria, BC

Congrats on having a seamless visa extension process, G. Enjoy the rest of your time in Colombia, and hopefully some of our tips and recommendations will work out for you.

Coincidentally, we're heading to your hometown in a couple weekends.

Oh cool! If you have time on your trip to Victoria, I recommend checking out Thetis Lake Park and Sooke Potholes Park (one of my favourite places in the world). For good food in a comfy setting, check out the Heron Rock Bistro in James Bay. Favourite cafe is Bean Around The World in Chinatown, and favourite spot for late night drinks is The Mint on Douglas St. Have a wonderful time!

Thanks G! My sister got a place in James Bay, so for sure I'll follow your Heron Rock recommendation. And hopefully a couple others as well. I really appreciate it when readers return the favor and share tips

Hello, My visa request was granted, but nothing in the appendix except a picture. no number, no name. what does the attachment look like? Do I have to go to the office now?

Hi Mino. So you got a similar confirmation email to the one I screenshotted above? If so, that's it. You don't get a piece of paper to put in your passport or anything.

Thanks so much for this super helpful and funny article. Mine was just approved first time round, although the one business day thing definitely runs on Colombian time, mine took 4 business days. Just also wanted to give a heads up to anyone, they extended mine until the date of my exit flight rather than the full 90 days, this only cuts me short a few days so it’s no biggie, but for anyone booking a ticket get it for the last day rather than just picking a random flight and day.

Thanks again and happy travels

Thanks for pointing that out, Holly. I've updated the guide to share that info. Congrats on the successful extension and enjoy the rest of your time in Colombia!

Here's my experience with my recent application for a 90 day extension:

Went through the online procedure as given here.

Receveived "No Fue Aprobado" within 24 hours. (It was clear from the reason my documents had not been looked at)

Made a second online application waited 6 days and after no reply email I decided to go to the immigration office in Cartagena.

Took all documents with me but the officer only used my passport and didn't look at anything else.

My tourist visa is due to expire on 14/7/19 and I received an extension today 10/7/19 valid till 11/10/19.

My extension is for 88 days which was based of my entry stamp (15/4/19) which is still 2 days less than I should have been given.

Anyway hope this information helps anyone else applying for an extension.

Hi, thank you very much for sharing the experience, it is very helpful! I have one question: we are located in Bogota, and once the application online has been approved, do we still need to pay a visit to the migracion office? I heard that the applicant will still need to be present in the migracion office in order to complete the process, but not sure if it is true.

Thank you very much!

Best, Chingcheh

Hi Chingheh. You should be able to pay online too and avoid the migracion office altogether.

Great post! So very luckily i just got my extension granted email within 48hrs! And my email is exactly like the screenshot indicated on your post. But that’s it! I don’t receive any attached PDF document which indicates my name, my passport information, new expiration date…is that normal? Thanks for your help. Cheers:)

Hi Xuan. Yeah, it's normal not to receive anything other than the confirmation email. We were nervous about that too, but it's in Migracion's system.

Hello, A friend of mine applied for a 90-day visa extension and was granted that. However she left the country after staying 15 days of the 90-day extension in Colombia. She has been out of Colombia for 2 months and is planning on returning to Colombia once again. She is wondering if she will be able to stay in Colombia for the remaining 75 days of her visa extension, or she can only stay until the date that her extended visa expires, which is about more or less 15 days maximum. Any suggestions or recommendation will be appreciated,

Just a follow up to my previous comment/question, As I understand it, a foreign tourist can stay only 180 days a year in Colombia, however since my friend has been out of Colombia for about 60 days out of her 90-day visa extension, would the Immigration officials at the airport grant her those 60 days+ to stay in Colombia (like extending the 90-day extension's expiration date ?

Hey Ali, Yeah, the agent should grant your friend the remaining days out of the 180 she can stay for the calendar year. Even so, I'd be sure to bring it up with the immigration agent upon her return so the agent doesn't absentmindedly do something different.

hi, i have just followed your tutorial yesterday afternoon and have received the approved email on my extention VISA. thank you very much for your thorough steps on this.

i came to Bogota on June 13, and the extension should be December 13. the thing is i went out to Peru and Canada from August 3 – August 17 (14 days) which means i have extra 14 days to put on my extension, which means around December 27 IMHO. i put the date on December 25 for my last day in Bogota (bought the ticket in Expedia).

the questions are; (1) the thing is they only gave me the extension until December 22. would that be a problem? (2) and if i fly out from Bogota December 25, and come back January 2020, would remaining days start from zero (0) day?

thank you for your help.

Hey Andreas, Congrats on getting extended.

June 13 plus 180 days in Dec 10, then you were in Peru for 13 full days, so I suspect that's the cause of your discrepancy. If you leave later than the date Migracion gave you, Dec 22, I don't know what the punishment would be—whether a fine, a travel ban, both, or something else—but since you plan on returning I'd recommend either you change your flight dates or confirm the penalty won't be too severe. Hopefully it works out for you!

I go back and forth between the US and Colombia frequently. Upon my last two arrivals in Bogotá (from the US), they gave me 90 days, apparently without bothering to count how many days I have already been in the country this calendar year. In fact, the 90 days they gave me will push me about 60 days over the 180-day limit. Presumably, I just got lucky twice in a row in terms of them stamping my passport without bothering to do a tally, but I'm curious to know whether others have had this happen. I'm wondering how frequent it is, and if, perhaps, it's somehow becoming more common. (Although laws are frequently updated here in Colombia, I don't believe the law in question has been changed.) Has anybody witnessed a tally being done upon entry into the country?

Now I face a dilemma. My latest 90-day stamp gives me permission to be in Colombia until the end of November. I was planning to do a short trip to the US in early October, but now I don't know whether to risk it. There is certainly a significant possibility that, upon trying to return, they will do an actual tally and not let me in.

Interesting question, Luc. I figured the days were tallied digitally, but maybe not. Or the system's not the most accurate.

Have you also looked into the possible income tax implications of being in Colombia for more than 180 days?

I have done all the procedures but I received an email and this is their content

Your request is being attended. To continue we request that the following supports be entered:

Mr. Ususario to proceed with the procedure should be referred to the nearest immigration services facilitator center with your documentation. At the address http://apps.migracioncolombia.gov.co/registro/public/numeroGenerado.jsf

With the following login data

what I have to do. If I know that I have checked the website and I am required to enter a document, but I don't know what it is and is not clear what it is

Hey Jasmine. From what I read, and since I can't log in to see what the link is, it seems like they want you to come to the Migracion offices.

Thank you very much! I followed your guide to the letter and got approved on the first attempt! It works better and more efficient than I'm used to (in Colombia)… I combined the three pdf's into one document, by the way. And the new term they gave me is the end of my current visa, +90 days.

Thanks again! Thomas

Exito! That's my favorite Spanish word, so thanks for giving me another opportunity to use it, Thomas. All the best with your extra 90 days in Colombia!

I'm travelling to Medellin from Canada. I purchased a round trip ticket for 5 1/2 months to avoid the winter here.

Should I have purchased my ticket for 90 days instead of 152 days? Will there be any issues entering the country?

I wouldn't buy a ticket just to get my visa approved colombia is beaitiful country and you shouldn't limit your time on it.

This site does the trick provide dummy ticket for visa application

dummyticket.flights

Hey Aurelio, It depends on the airline. When we flew in from Panama, they required an outbound ticket within 90 days, so we bought one and cancelled it immediately for a full refund, as explain how to do here. Enjoy your warm winter in Colombia!

Both my girlfriend and I received pre-aproval on our extension applications withing 24 hours, however neither of us are able to pay using the online system. All of our cards are being declined, and whenever we fill out the section "pay with somebody else's card" we are just bunped back to the original page and then declined again. I tried 4 times and seem to now be locked out of the system as the payment page will no longer load after filling in my log in and password. Has anybody else had this problem? Many thanks.

Thanks so much for all this helpful information. I have a question based on my unique situation… I am a US citizen who just obtained my Colombian citizenship, in Colombia, while visiting as an American, through my father who is Colombian-born (birthright). I've been in Colombia now for over 2 months and my 90 day tourist visa is running up.

My question at this point is this: being that I'm now a Colombian citizen, is there some way other than this process to enable me to extend my stay? Can I just go to the immigration office and say "Hey, I'm actually a citizen now… please lift my restrictions" ? Or do I have to go through with the visa extension process based on the fact that I ENTERED the country as a US citizen using my US passport, and that is what my current status shows?

Any help is much appreciated! I imagine if I can't find a straight answer I will either visit the immigration office or just do the normal visa extension process and not mention my new citizenship (for now).

Thanks so much!

Wow, you're not kidding that your situation is unique, Daniel. Yeah, I'd go to the immigration offices, like you said. Or ask any contact you have from the citizenship process.

Hi Chris. Thanks for this great resource. I have read all the comments above to try to answer the following question: Is the 180 days (the 90 days plus 90 day extension) within a single calendar year, as you and many other blogs say it is, OR are the 180 days within any 12 month period?

I'm desperately hoping it is what you say – that the 180-day clock gets reset every January 1st – however I was told on the phone by Migracion Colombia that it is the latter – 180 days per any 12 month period. And, also when I asked the UK Consulate they directed me to the 5th para on this link https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/colombia/entry-requirements which states that it is 180 days within any 12 month period. Does anyone know about this? I understand that it's not unheard of to get variable information from Migracion Colombia, but is the Uk.gov website wrong? Any help with this would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Hi Piers. In one of the comments above, I quoted directly from Migracion's documentation that it's written 180 days per calendar year. The link I shared is now broken, but if you search those terms online you'll find links to the updated site that says the same. It also says you can extend your 90 days once per visit, so if you've been in the country for 180 days, you'd have to leave and come back regardless of whether it's a new year. (i.e. you can't stay 270 days straight over 2 calendar years)

Hey Chris, thanks for your reply. Yes, the Migracion Colombia websites do say 180 days per año calendario… so that is great news!! I'm much reassured. I think the UK government's Colombia travel advice page must have it wrong. Yes I am aware that I need to leave Colombia at 180 days. Thanks again!!

Just writing to say thanks.

I followed your instructions. I combined the three PDFs into one PDF. I am Dutch, for what it's worth.

I received the "ha finalizado con éxito" email less than an hour after applying!

And in my case, I did get the full 90 extra days, despite having a flight sooner than that.

Good to know. Thanks Phil. Mucho mas exito with your remaining days in Colombia!

I was approved and paid the 99,000.00 but there isn’t a confirmed date of a 90 day extension. Or even at what point the 90 days starts from? I paid on 1/28/20 but my first 90 days was up 2/26/20 so do I assume I get an additional 90 days from 2/26 or it starts at 1/28/20 is there someone I can call just to know or confirm when I need to exit the country?

Yeah, it's a bit unnerving to not have the date on paper. We had the same. It should be the 90 days from 2/26. If you want to know the exact date your extended permit expires you might be able to email them to get it. Let us know if and how you get the exact info. Thanks, Lucy!

Let me quickly share my horror story! I bought a ticket to leave Colombia after I got asked to show the ticket to leave. They granted me the extension Visa but 2 days before my flight (which I just bought for the Visa). I wasn't even noticing it. It just got worse as I missed my connection flight in Bogota.

I asked in the Immigration if there is anything I can do, but now… Seems that I have no choice than paying the penalty fee for overstaying. Next time I buy the fake ticket and get full length as my extension was just meant for 1 more month. I feel very frustrated. Especially if nobody speaks a bit english and they blame you for trying and asking in Spanish… Again and again with patience.

They didn't even extend you up to the date of your flight? So you didn't get your full 180 days? Man, how frustrating. But thanks for sharing, Chris.

Lesson for everyone: Buy a fake ticket for 180 days after you arrive so you're sure when they extend you they don't cut you off short.

Hi. I wrote a year ago on here about how I finally managed to pay for my extension by going to the Cali Immigration Office and how neither my cc or my bank card worked and how one of the guys working there was kind enough to pay with his card in exchange for the cash which I had on hand, but why is it that most everyone else seems to be breezing through the online payment process, whereas I'm not (and my friend who is willing to use his cc to pay for my fee is having the same problems listed below)? I'm in Cali right now, but have the same problems with my two cards. After entering the number and code to get to the payment page, is everyone clicking on 'Credit Card' (which when I do, I repeatedly get a message saying 'error, timed out' or are people clicking on the 'Place to Pay' tab? When I click on Place to Pay, it goes to the place to pay page, but is everyone having to Join and sign up first before paying?? When I click on Join Place to Pay, it seems like it goes more to a question page as opposed to a sign up page. Did you end up going to Victoria? That's where I'm from.

Hey Thomas. Sorry to hear about your payment issues. I don't know how to help you. Maybe someone reading this solved the problem and can chime in?

Victoria, B.C.? Yeah! My sister and Kim's sister and brother all live there. We've been multiple times and may even spend extended time there this coming summer. Maybe see you around!

I think this was a great post. BUT, not as easy as indicated. Simply put, for me, the payment option(s) did NOT work. No matter what browser, payment method etc. So I am guessing I could have saved all this time scanning and filling out forms as I need to go down to the office anyways. So please, let folks know, or I am assuming I have, this is NOT a slam dunk. It's a pain in the butt to say the least.

Thanks Austyn. I added a warning about the payment. Sorry you had payment problems. That sucks.

Given that many others haven't had the same problems as you, I still think it's worth trying the online visa extension than assuming your payment won't go through and going to migracion without even trying.

OK. to end my .02. I could NOT pay for this extension online. All good as I wanted a reason to venture out. So in Cartagena, I went to the main office. I had an appointment (Just to pay) and had the security guy check my pack. I was an hour late and don't think the appointment mattered. Once inside the check-in guy wrote all my information (passport) etc. and handed me a ticket with a number. Kind of like a USA butcher shop ticker. That didn't seem to matter as folks tore in front of me (seems like a Colombian thing).

Once inside the big door some hot Chica patted the seat next to her and said hey, sit here. Not being completely dumb I obliged! Eventually (10 mins) some guy said 'I help'. I showed him My Pre-Approval letter and let him know their system was not working (4 PCs and 4 browsers later). He got it. Spent 5 minutes with him and he extended it for the full time (even though I am to fly out much, much sooner)., All in all a cool guy, passport stamped and was as cordial as I can imagine. should have just gone down from the beginning bujt who knows about these Online Mess-ups!??? Hope this helps! Yes, I [aid the 103 COP on a CC and all went well

Thanks Paul for the story and info! Did you leave the offices with that woman's phone number as well as a visa extension? That'd be a bonus and another reason not to bother with the online visa extension.

epic breakdown yall, thanks so much, [no problemo] made me laugh out loud. abrazo

Glad to hear it, Stu! Thanks. And muy bueno Spanglish. It's seeping in well!

Hi, thanks for this article.

I am currently trying to extend my visa. I thought I'd give it a try without booking a flight first. Either way, I've tried it twice now, and still haven't got an email that the application was even received. After filling out the form it just brings me to a page with a generated number for my application.

Any advice?

Is this a legitimate site? They helped us and asked for 80 US and told us we would get the invoice once the application was submitted! We cancelled, but they now have all our travel & passport info.

https://expatgroup.co/onlinepayments/

Hi Donnalynn. Based on extensive reviews and comments over the years and the fact they've done events with Medellin Guru, it seems legit. Please keep us posted.

Hi With the cuarentena is our 90-day tourist visa 'paused' until the cuarentena is lifted?

Not my favorite thought, BUT if my 90 days are up, then my extra 90 days are up, what happens then? 🙂

Thanks! Really like your site! Scott in Medellin

Hi Scott. I don't know, sorry. We're currently in South Africa facing a similar issue. I'd check the Medellin expats groups on Facebook to see what others have found out. All the best!

Thank you so much for your information . There is a way you can buy a onwardticket through an agency the ticket generally expires within 120hours with only $ 10 . I have used them severant times to show proof of onward travel at airport and it works great for me . https://www.onwardticketvisa.com

This was really helpful, thank you! I was denied the first time. I never received an email though so be sure to check the status in the link they send you. Under 'Estado de Trámite' mine said "CANCELADO" with no further info so I tried again. I followed all the tips EXACTLY (adding a scan effect to my documents, booking a flight on expedia on the 180th day etc). I was pre-approved in one day and then paid the 103.000 fee online and received my visa via email almost instantly. Also worth noting: Parts of the form wouldn't load when filling it out in English (e.g. Birth place: Neozelandesa) but it loaded fine en Español 🙂

Hey Jessie. I believe in Colombia, "cancelado" can also mean "paid" or "settled" as well as "cancelled." Might that have been the translation in your case? Glad you sorted it out in the end. And thanks for sharing the note on having to fill out the form in Spanish rather than English.

Thanks for the tip on changing the language to allow the birthplace to show!

I am unable to select my country of birth. There are no options when I click the drop down menu. It just says select and that is it.

I submitted on the 7th, and just received the confirmation email with my login details, but when i look up the details online it says "EN AREA DE TRAMITE" and "Trámite no facturado". I assume it's just sitting somewhere.

I know it's now impossible to go to migracion to sort this out, is there any other way? I still have a while before I have to leave (I have until the 5th of feb) but it is getting closer by the day.

any thoughts?

Hi Richard,

Also submitted my extension on the 7th Jan but still haven't received a reply either yet. Starting to get worried now too. If you happened to hear back or work out another solution, please could you let us know.

Thank you all for your invaluable help. Using all the tips here, I applied with 3 weeks before my 90 days were up. Scanning all documents and combining them into one did the trick. One thing I can mention is that once I completed the application online, I received a confirmation email stating the process was completed successfully and that I would receive a approval/denial in one business day.. I waited 4 days but never received anything. I decided to check the status link sent in confirmation email and noticed that it was waiting for payment. I decided to take a chance and pay it even though I had not received approval email and it worked out.. I received my final OK in attached PDF. So if you do not receive approval email definitely check out the status in the link provided in confirmation email. Also, as others have experienced, when using English version of site.. the drop downs did not populate.. Spanish worked 100%. Hope this helps and good luck to all.

Hi Alex, can I ask when abouts you sent your application? 12 days and still counting (no update on their link and of course, their phone numbers and email they listed and directly replying back don't work :/ )

The most helpful article I've seen on the topic and I've ready MANY. Thank you, thank you, thank you!! Fingers crossed it works out for me 🙂

One question though – I never received a confirmation email and I submit my form 3 times. I'm thinking that's two too many and I might confuse the system but how would I do it went through without a confirmation email?

Hi Hiba. How long has it been? In an earlier comment, Edward said it took 3 days and 4 hours to get his. Maybe it's "en tramite"?

Hi, what ended up happening with you? I am yet to receive a confirmation email and am thinking about doing another application with a different email. Did you have any problems with sending multiple?

Worried here too about my solicitud. I filled in the online form for extension 8 days ago now. My first 90 days will end in 6 days (February 5). Did never receive a confirmation email, but did see a screen that my solicitud went well and made a picture of the date and the 17 digits confirmation number.

As I never received an email I am unable to check the status of my solicitud. It's impossible to go to the Migracion office in Belen as they won't let people in according extensions for "Tourist Visas". There is no option to make an online appointment either.

Any advice / help what to do?

Hugs, Lauren

Sorry hadn't seen this earlier Lauren. It took 3 weeks after submitting for the status to change on their platform to awaiting payment for me (I never received an email and was checking daily). It then instantly changed to "PENDIENTE POR FIRMAR", where it has sat for the past week.

Advice for others, if you have less than a month left on your visa, I'd strongly advise going to a visa office. The numbers and email addresses they provide just don't work and it's been 4 weeks and counting for me.

Hi Kris, where did you check the progress/status of your application? I also haven't received a confirmation email!

chris thanks alot man for this article, really helped me out my visa was ending on the 27th of feb (this month) and i've been looking online as to any insight on renewing the visa, your article came in clutch thanks alot man. i paid today the fee any info on what happens next ???

Hi Mike. We didn't get anything after paying, either. But if you got the "con exito" email I screenshoted in the post, you're GTG (…or actually, good to stay for another 90 days).

Best article by far on this! Really well done. Thank you Chris!!! 🙂

Thanks Steve! I appreciate it.

hi there. I was able to successfully renew my Colombian visa online for an additional 90 days in mid january so i can stay in Colombia till mid april. Can i apply to renew again online in april for an additional eight weeks ? Or will i have to do some sort of visa run and leave the country and return quickly? Unfortunately because of covid my original next destination is locked down and travellers not allowed in . Thanks

Hi Sara. Yeah, I believe you'll have to do a visa run.

Thank you very much for the article. I do have a question. I feel it’s a stupid one due to all of the effort and thought that has been put into writing this. But I will ask anyway. Before the end of the first 90 days, is it possible to fly out of Colombia for a “holiday” and return after a week or so and have a new batch of 90 days stamped on your passport? Queue the eye roll 🙂

Hello Justin. I would have thought someone had asked about visa runs in the past, but looks like you're the first one. Based on what I quickly read from a search on the Medellin Expats Facebook group, it looks like it works and is a popular option for people who don't want to deal the bureaucratic hassle of extending without leaving.

Hi im just trying to understand the 180 days consecutive day stay rule . If i arrived mid nov 2020 and got a 3 month online extension in feb 2021 does this mean that following the 180 days consecutive rule i must leave the country by mid may ? However if i was to leave and immediately come back by doing doing i would reset the clock for 2021 and i would still be entitled to a total of 180 days in Colombia for a calendar year so i could return and stay till of june 2021 . Is this correct ? any strategy suggestions for renewing when my first visa renewal expires in April? thanks

Hi Suzy. Here's my understanding, which Eamon corroborated in an earlier comment: You can stay 180 straight days at a time and 180 days in a year. So you'll have to leave mid-May. No second extension. But you can come back and complete your 180 days for 2021. Maybe even more, if they don't keep track of the days from your previous 180-day stint (which I suspect). Though you may want to be careful of tax and residency implications of staying in any country for more than half the year. For example, if Kim and I live abroad more than 180 days, we're no longer covered by Canadian health insurance.

I wasn't able to enter my country of birth on the English version. In Spanish it was fine but also deleted all my information in the process.

Best to us the Spanish Version and google translate if needed.

I filled out my application this morning but am yet to receive a confirmation email (I have a screenshot of the page saying it was sent, with the application number). Do you think it's best for me to fill out another application using a different email, or just to go in to the Bogota migration office?

Thank you so much! Though there is one more thing perhaps you can help me with. I will be traveling onward (with my dog) to Ecuador, Peru and Chile. But I will need to pass through these countries again to get home. (Within a year or so). Can I get another 90 day visa within that year? Basicly on the return travels I need to give my dog a break from the air travel. Say a week to a month in each country.

Hi Leeds. Sorry, I don't know. I imagine that as long as you spend less than 90 days in each country at a time, and less than 180 days total in any given country, you'll be fine. But don't take my word for it.

Today I channeled my inner éxito and did my application for extension. Filed it at 2 pm on the Spanish site and got the "received" email shortly after. At 5 pm I got the pre-approval email. I had to try 2 different credit cards for the 105,000 COP payment – I think the first was rejected because I needed to enter my mobile number which is Colombian, and that bank in Canada doesn't have the new number attached. Then I tried another one which does, different Canadian bank, and it worked fine. I also experienced not being able to choose my city of Calgary so changed the province from Alberta to Canada in both places and that worked. One other thing – you need to add an emergency contact on the form – I tried one in Canada but it wouldn't accept a Canadian phone # so I changed it to a local friend and that worked. Thanks for such a complete, useful outline of the process – it was practically painless!

Update – the next morning at 9 I received the final email with the doc I need to carry with my passport in paper or digital form. 🙂

Exitooooo! And thanks, Karen, for sharing your payment and province workarounds.

Hi everyone

Similar to Skyler's experience, I also applied for "Permiso Temporal de Permanencia para Prorrogar Permanencia" online, got a registration number but no confirmation e-mail. I went to the Immigration office two days later without an appointment, took a print off the "code generated" screenshot as well as a copy of all my other documents. At the immigration office there was a huge queue, however, some guy luckily told me that the long waiting line was for Venezuelan immigrants only. Instead he guided me straight to the main entrance where I waited on the left hand side for a couple of minutes until they invited me in. I got my visa extension within 15 minutes and the woman who served me was very nice, clear and friendly. I didn't get an e-mail but have the stamp in my passport instead. Many thanks for this clear and super helpful blogpost. It is much, much appreciated. Enjoy beautiful Colombia everyone!

Gracias! Applied visa prolongation for me and my husband. My application was approved totally online and I only sent photo of my passport and entry stamp, without any ticket. Received confirmation email and a bit later link to pay. I could pay online and got full 90 days prolongation. For application of my husband we had to pay offline in a bank, because all our cards were rejected. That was the only difference – only photos of passport and entry stamp, full 90 days renewal. So chevere!

Hi, I applied and paid (I'm from USA) and got my email saying my extension was successful. HOWEVER, in the attached PDF there appears to be an end to the validity of my visa which is NOT totaling 90 days. It says:

Válido desde: 2022/01/09 (the date my current visa will expire) Válido hasta: 2022/02/19 (this is only a 40 DAY extension if this is the end of my visa)

So I'm wondering if that is indeed the day they are expecting me to leave, and if so, why did I not get the full 90 days?

I should mention also that my current visa is actually the 3rd entry I've had into Colombia in 2021, I have entered twice before and in those trips I stayed a combined total of about 48 days. I'm wondering if they are NOT assuming that my 180 days for the calendar year should reset on Jan 1? That's the only reason I can think of for why they would not give me the full 90 days, unless it's common for them to randomly give you less time.

Also, I will note that I did not submit any flight out of the country, I was successfully approved with just my passport scans. Maybe if I had shown a ticket out at the full 90 days would that have made a difference?

Thank you for this super helpful information. And thanks to the commenters who added their hacks and tips!

Hi Chris and everyone!

I was wondering if someone has more up to date information on some of the "reset the counter" cases that other users have mentioned here in the forum?

I currently have an EU passport with a 180 days (aprox. 6 months) tourist permit to be in Colombia.

This year I have already used 160 days of the permit, and I am currently in the EU.

My question is: if I go back to Colombia, for example, on the 22nd of December and use the remaining days of my permit, will it reset itself on the 1st of January 2023?

So, 20 days left of the current permit – 10 days to be used from 22.12 until 31.12, would still leave me with 10 days left. Since I want to stay for another 90/180 days in 2023, will I have to leave the country on the 31.12.22 and come back again on (or after) the 1.1.23 for the permit to reset and get the 90 days, or will it "automatically" reset itself?

Side-note for those interested in "visa runs": while I was in Colombia I went to Costa Rica for one week and upon arrival back in Colombia the immigration officer had a very accurate counter of the remaining days in my EU tourist permit.

Great article. f you could not compress your file, try this! https://miniimagesvideos.com/pdf go there to compress your 3 pages once (passport pg 1, visa pic pg 2, then flight proof pg 3), then compress the minimal setting on ilovepdf.com to reach around 760MB. I was not able to get to 1MB using only ilovepdf.com even compressing over and over or on max compression.

edit: 730 kb** so less than 1 MB

Great writeups and suggestions but I have a question for you. Do you hsve any info on what has happened to “Medrllin Guru”? Their weekly mailouts went inactive last April. I’m glad to find another site for Medellin info.

Thanks Richard. No idea what happened to Medellin Guru. Now I'm curious. The guy who runs (ran?) it, Jeff, seemed to have a good thing going on. I hope everything's ok.

This article is still so so so helpful in September 2022, thank you! I just wanted to give an update that I didn't notice mentioned in the article: they won't process your request more than 5-8 days before your 90 days expire. I just got off the phone with a Migración officer in Bogotá who laughed and said, "We punish you for applying early, wait until your 90 days is about to expire, no more than 5-8 days before."

We arrived in August and thought we'd get the jump on extending because we already know we are staying until the end of December, but our extensions were rejected today. I guess now we'll be waiting to reapply until the end of October!

Ooh, this is helpful ! We are in a similar situation. Arrived in August and staying more than 3months. I was about to apply. Thanks

Hey Ian, thanks for sharing this. It's still relevant in May 2023. I just had the same experience when calling the Bogota office. They said apply 10-5 days before your visa expires. This makes sense considering I applied 3 times (over a month prior) and was rejected. I will start trying again 10 days before.

Great read but your map is wrong, went in without an appointment after waiting a week with no response after registering online. Total time was 20 minutes luckily wasn't in the Venezualan line out front. Received email with payment info and payment went through the first time unlike last year, people where kind at immigration office. Thanks for the information!

FireShot extension lets you screenshot a section, the visible part or the entire page. So that's better than the first suggestion from this post.

Hi Great blog i found it very helpful, do you have any advice on applying for a spouse visa, they say i need a letter of invitation from my wife but not sure if there is a template for this. Agencies want 600 dollars to do it!!

This post is still relevant in 2023. Medellin office application still pending after 3 weeks. The Piedras office application got a response the next day with payment link and extension was received the same day. However, that was 1 of the 4 applications I sent. Doing the 3 applications again today and hoping I get lucky with all of them.

Is there any regulations on how much time is left till your passport expires? I went to migracion in cartagena and they said it didn't matter but some other sources say that you need at least 6 months till your passport expires to qualify for the extension.

Some people in this comment section are saying that you can only apply 8-5 days before your expiration date, is that true or can you do it sooner like the article suggests? I don't want to buy plane tickets too early nor too late for cancelation reasons

I have since received my Extension of an additional 90 days. i will try to recount as best as I can what I did in hopes that it may be of some help. I simple went the government website that was located on this article and selected the Spanish option. For emergency contact I put my other cell phone that has a Colombian number, put my fathers name, and a random address that I was close to in Cartagena. As for the documents I used adobe. I went to my local store that does copies and scans documents, it costed close to a dollar, everything was in color. The bio page of my passport was on the same page as my most recent entry stamp page, my flight itinerary was on a separate page. My ticket was bought though the website here on https://onwardticket.com/ . I combined the two documents into one and met the size requirements though adobe. For my birth place I did “united states, Nevada, Carson City” I thought mine would be Las Vegas but because that is the city that I was born, but that was not an option. When I got to the last part when it asks you to put in the series of letters and numbers for the Consentimiento, it kept saying that it was not correct. I retried multiple times and it kept saying that it was wrong. I looked at my email and I had received like 7 confirmations that my application was submitted successfully, each click that I did submitting my application received a separate email of confirmation even though the website told me they were unsuccessful. Very weird. Within 24 hours I received confirmation that one of applications was pre-approved. I went to the website it told me to use to make a payment, payment was successful first time around, another 24 hours later I got the permission to stay an additional 90 days.

lovely spot, i follow your steps however the email i received stated "Registrado en Fut" and there is only a button finished to click and it brings you back to the login page. I havent received a new email or form of payment.

sorry lovely blog and informative post

Thank you so much for this detailed report of what it takes. It took me so many times and I wanted to give up often Point 4 was so important. I prayed, crossed my fingers and did everything else I knew to do. Eventually I got the form to submit and after 3 days of waiting got the approval even without proof of onward travel. Then another 6 attempts to pay the fee even though it’s meant to be free for Shenghen countries I was so happy I went out immediate to get my phone unblocked and registered so I can use it here but that’s another story altogether!

Hey, thanks for this article and many helpful others about travel in Colombia. It's all still relevant in May 2023. I will just add, as others have recently, that it seems they don't approve your visa extension until about 10-5 days before it expires. I called the Bogota Migracion office and the agent said my previous 3 attempts were rejected only because they were too early (LOL). I will try again 10 days before expiration and update with my status.

Thank you so much for this post! My husband, 2-year-old son, and I were all approved within a few days of applying by following these helpful steps. We appreciate you taking the time to provide the resources and links. Take care!

Thanks for the thanks, Lisa. Glad it went smoothly for you!

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How To Extend Your Visa in Colombia

Learn everything you need about the Colombian Tourist Stamp extension process and turn your 90 stamp into 180 days.

Colombia is a mesmerizing country known for its vibrant culture, beautiful landscapes, and warm hospitality. If you find yourself falling in love with this South American gem during your initial 90-day tourist stay, you may be wondering how to extend your visa to continue your Colombian adventure. In this guide, we'll take you through the step-by-step process of extending your visa in Colombia, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free experience.

Step 1: Plan Ahead

Before we dive into the visa extension process, it's essential to remember not to procrastinate. To avoid unnecessary stress, plan to extend your visa 10-15 days before your initial 90-day tourist permit expires. The Colombian visa extension allows you to stay up to an additional 90 days, starting only after your current limit runs out.

Step 2: Colombia Visa Extension Requirements

To ensure a smooth application process, you'll need to gather the following essential documents:

• Passport Bio Page : The main page of your passport containing your picture, name, and date of birth is mandatory. If your passport has an address page, it is not necessary to upload it.
• Entry Stamp: The page in your passport that indicates the date of your entry into Colombia.
• Onward Flight from Colombia: You must provide proof of an onward flight ticket taking you out of Colombia. Ensure that the departure date falls within the initial 180 days of your arrival. The itinerary should be from any Colombian city to a non-Colombian city.

If you are extending the visa for children, you will need to submit additional documents, such as the children's birth certificates and the passport of one parent.

Step 3: Submitting the Online Colombia Tourist Visa Extension Application

Now that you have your documents ready, it's time to start the application process. Go to the official website of Colombia Migraciones and select the English option if available. Choose "Permiso Temporal de permanencia para Prorrogar Permanencia" under "Tipo de Tramite" to begin the extension process.

While the English version of the website may not fully translate everything, you can use Google Translate or try the Spanish version if you're comfortable with a little Spanish.

Complete the application form and upload the required documents. Make sure to combine all three documents (passport bio page, entry stamp, and onward flight) into one PDF, not exceeding 1 MB in size.

Step 4: Pay the Fees to Extend Colombia Tourist Visa

After submitting your application, you should receive an email indicating that your application has been pre-approved. The email will include payment instructions. If you are a national of an EU country, the extension is free. Otherwise, you will need to pay the equivalent of around $30 in Colombian pesos.

You can make the payment online, at a Banco Occidente bank, or at a Migracion Colombia office. Be patient during the payment process, as the website can sometimes be slow and prone to errors.

Step 5: Receive Success Email for Colombia Tourist Permit Extension

Once your payment is confirmed, you will receive a PDF stating that your tourist permit has been extended. Print this document and keep it with your passport as proof of your extended stay.

Problems with Extending Colombia Tourist Visa & Possible Solutions

While the visa extension process is generally straightforward, some common issues may arise. Here are potential problems and their solutions:

• Rejection Email: If you receive a rejection email, check if you missed any documents or if the uploaded PDFs were of low quality. Resubmit a fresh application with all required documents.
• No Rejection or Approval Email: If you don't receive any emails after submitting your application, wait for at least 24 to 48 hours. Check your spam folder and note down your case number. 

Visiting the Migracion Colombia office may be necessary as a last resort, but the results can vary depending on the immigration officer's mood.

2023 Passport Stamp Updates: 

Due to the impact of COVID-19 and the large amount of visa requests Colombia is getting, the visa extension process may take longer than usual. Some expats reported not receiving emails for up to two weeks.

However, you should be fine if you respond 10-15 days before your passport stamp expiration date.  

Extending your visa in Colombia allows you to immerse yourself deeper into this captivating country, explore its diverse landscapes, and experience its rich culture. By following the step-by-step process and ensuring you have all the required documents, you can smoothly extend your stay and continue your Colombian adventure.

Remember to plan ahead, avoid procrastination, and keep an eye on any updates or changes in the visa extension process. While navigating bureaucracy can be challenging, with patience and persistence, you'll soon be enjoying more of what Colombia has to offer, from its bustling cities to its stunning natural wonders. So don't hesitate to extend your stay in this extraordinary land of beauty and hospitality.

Daniela Cordoba is a lawyer specializing in immigration and commercial law. Daniela Cordoba has helped individuals and businesses live and operate in Colombia for over a decade. She also has training in compliance with the respective accreditations to serve as Compliance Officer.

For the past decade we have been helping travelers secure visas to Colombia.

We work with you 1:1 to ensure you not only have the best chance of getting approval, but that you have every one of your questions answers.

You don't have to worry about having to translate emails or communication, our team is fluent in English and can help you with whatever you need.

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How To Extend Your Colombian Tourist Visa in 2022

by Nick | Jul 9, 2021 | Colombia , Travel Writing

So you’re not ready to leave Colombia just yet. 

Your 90-day tourist visa is expiring. 

And you don’t fancy doing an expensive border run.

Don’t worry. Here’s how to extend your Colombian tourist visa for another 90 days. I’ve done this more times than I’d have liked so this is a no-fluff guide. 

Step 1 – Go to Colombia’s migration website

Follow this link: https://www.migracioncolombia.gov.co/  

Select Trámites y Servicios.

Click on Prórroga de Permanencia (literally it means stay extension). And is impossible to pronounce for that matter… 

Carry out the application.

When I selected English I couldn’t submit the form for some reason. 

Here you need to upload your passport AND proof of onward travel (even though it doesn’t ask for it) 

Add documents in PDF format and click “cargar” when prompted to save them — remember to do this or it won’t work

The first time I applied I got a confirmation email. The second time, nothing. But don’t worry, in around a week you’ll get an email with the result of your application. 

Both times I was “pre-approved” and given a payment link. 

Depending on where you’re from you’ll need to pay for the visa extension. I’m British, and now that we’re out of the EU we need to pay around 120 mil pesos (around 30 USD). If you’re part of the EU, you won’t have to pay. 

Annoyingly, online payments never worked for me or my Suisse friend. We had to go to the migration office in Belen. 

Step 2 – Go to the migration office with your passport 

You don’t need to print out the email with the confirmation but I did just in case. There’s a place you can print out documents next to the migration office. 

There are a few entrances. You want the one shown in the map above on Calle 19. The image below shows what the entrance looks like. There are always official walking to ask if you’re not sure. 

Get there early (around 8 am) — The security guys are super helpful and friendly. Just show him the email you received. He’ll likely tell you to wait to one side until an agent is available. 

Both times had to wait for a little under an hour. 

The first time around I paid the fee in the office. That’s now changed. The agent gave me a slip of paper with a QR code and told me to go to a banco to pay the fee. 

Step 3 – Go to a Banco de Occidente (or bank specified)

The clerk in the bank will know what to do with the slip. Just make sure you have cash. 

After another week, you’ll receive confirmation that your payment was a success and a PDF with the date your visa extension expires. 

One more thing.

You can only stay in Colombia for 180 days per calendar year. However, there is a hack to stay for a year. You just need to get to Colombia in the 2nd half of the year (so, around July). A day before your first 180 days expires (90 days + visa extension), leave the country for 24hrs and come back. This is the infamous Colombian tourist visa border run. Many foreigners pick up a cheap flight to Panama, Quito en Ecuador, or chill in Mexico. Then r inse and repeat the above. Works like a charm. 

Apparently, you can overstay your visa. You’ll get a slap on the wrist and a hundred-dollar fine. I don’t think I could handle that stress so I’m going the student visa route instead . But, if you’re a risk-taker, it’s an option.

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How to Extend a Colombian Visa: A Comprehensive Guide for Foreigners

Colombia is a popular destination for foreigners due to its rich culture, breathtaking landscapes, and welcoming people. However, for those planning to stay in the country for an extended period of time, obtaining a visa is a necessary step. In this blog post, we will discuss the process of extending a Colombian visa, including the requirements, fees, and other important information. As an expert on Colombia, I will guide you through the nuances of this country’s visa system and help you navigate the process with ease.

What are the different types of visas in Colombia?

If you are planning to stay in Colombia for more than 90 days, you will need to obtain a visa. There are several types of visas available, each with specific requirements and restrictions. Here are the most common types of visas in Colombia:

• Visitor Visa: This visa is for tourists or short-term visitors who want to stay in Colombia for up to 180 days.
• Work Visa: This visa is for individuals who have a job offer in Colombia or want to start a business in the country.
• Student Visa: This visa is for foreign students who want to study in Colombia for a period longer than 180 days.
• Resident Visa: This visa is for individuals who have been living in Colombia for a certain period and want to stay for a longer period as a resident.

What are the requirements for extending a Colombian visa?

The requirements for extending a Colombian visa may vary depending on the type of visa you have. However, here are the general requirements that apply to most types of visas:

• A valid passport with at least 6 months of remaining validity.
• A completed visa application form.
• Proof of financial means to support yourself during your stay in Colombia.
• Proof of health insurance coverage.
• A valid visa or entry stamp in your passport.
• Payment of the visa extension fee.

How much does it cost to extend a Colombian visa?

The cost of extending a Colombian visa may vary depending on the type of visa and your country of origin. However, the visa extension fee is generally around $100 USD. You may also have to pay additional fees for processing and document submission.

What is the process of extending a Colombian visa?

The process of extending a Colombian visa may vary depending on the type of visa and your specific situation. However, here are the general steps you will need to follow:

• Make sure you have all the required documents and meet the eligibility criteria for extending your visa.
• Fill out the visa extension application form and gather all the necessary documents.
• Submit your application and pay the visa extension fee at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office or Ministry of Interior office in Colombia.
• Wait for your visa extension to be processed. This may take a few days to a few weeks depending on the type of visa and your specific situation.
• Once your visa extension is approved, you will receive a stamp in your passport indicating the new validity period.

What happens if my visa extension is denied?

If your visa extension is denied, you will have to leave Colombia before your current visa expires. You can then apply for a new visa from your home country or another country outside of Colombia.

What are the benefits of extending a Colombian visa?

Extending your Colombian visa can bring many benefits, such as:

• Being able to legally stay and work or study in Colombia for a longer period.
• Avoiding any penalties or fines for overstaying your visa.
• Having the opportunity to explore more of Colombia’s beautiful landscapes and culture.
• Building a stronger connection with the country and its people.

Other Ways People Asked This Question:

• What are the requirements for obtaining a work visa in Colombia?
• How long does it take to get a student visa in Colombia?
• Can I extend my tourist visa in Colombia?
• What is the best way to apply for a Colombian resident visa?
• Are there any exceptions for extending a Colombian visa?

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Do I need a visa to travel to Colombia?

Sep 23, 2023 • 5 min read

Find out if you need a visa to visit Colombia and how to get one if you do © F.J. Jimenez / Getty Images

Famed for its warm and welcoming atmosphere and its plethora of jaw-dropping national parks, sun-soaked beaches and dynamic cities, Colombia is fast becoming one of South America’s most popular travel destinations, drawing footloose backpackers and family vacationers in droves.

Adding to the appeal, visa requirements for Colombia are fairly straightforward, with visa-free travel available for a large number of countries, plus a simple online visa application process for those who need one.

As anywhere, requirements can change without warning, so it’s always important to double-check the latest guidance from your local Colombian embassy , but here are the most important things you need to know about visas for Colombia.

What are the entry requirements for Colombia?

Travelers from 102 countries and territories, including the USA, Canada, the UK, New Zealand and Australia, and most countries in the EU and EEA, can enter Colombia visa-free as tourists. Upon arrival, visitors from countries on the approved list receive a passport stamp granting a stay of up to 90 days.

There are a few conditions. You'll need a minimum of six months left on your passport before it expires and you may be asked to show proof of an onward ticket for travel out of Colombia at the end of your stay. Officials may also request evidence of a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you’re entering from another South American country.

You must complete the Check-Mig immigration form on the Migración Colombia website; this process was introduced during the pandemic and remains as a requirement to enter the country. It's available in English, Spanish and French, and the form must be filled out between 72 hours and one hour before departure for Colombia.

When leaving Colombia, there's a chance you may be charged an exit tax of US$35 at the airport. This tax is normally included in the cost of flight tickets, but you should confirm this when checking in for your inbound flight. 

Which countries need a visa for Colombia?

Citizens of most nations in Africa, Asia and the Middle East (plus some other countries) are not eligible for visa-free access and must apply in advance for a visitor visa to enter the country. There's a full list of countries and territories whose citizens require a visa on Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. 

Applications for tourist visas should be filed online and the cost varies depending upon your nationality and the country where you are located when applying. Expect to pay around US$82 for the visa, which is usually valid for a stay of up to 180 days. Make sure you have all of your documents ready before you begin the application process online – the website times out after 30 minutes, deleting any progress you’ve made up until that point. 

Citizens of Cambodia, China, India, Macau, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam can enter Colombia visa-free for up to 90 days if they have an existing short-stay visa or residency permit issued by the USA or any Schengen Area country. This document must be valid for at least 180 days beyond the date of your arrival in Colombia.

Can I extend my Colombian tourist visa?

If you’re a citizen of a country that has visa-free access to Colombia, you can extend your stay by an additional 90 days by applying for an extension online (in Spanish) or at the offices of Migracíon Colombia (including in  Bogotá , Medellín , Cali and Cartagena ). If you have a 180-day visa, this cannot be extended, as this is already the maximum stay allowed.

The process of extending your entry stamp must be completed at least two weeks before your existing stamp expires in case of any processing delays. You will need to provide photocopies of the information page of your passport and your Colombian entry stamp, and proof of a booking for onward travel within the next 90 days to support your application.

Extending your tourist stamp allows you to spend a maximum of 180 days in total in Colombia in any 12-month period. Extending costs US$27 for most nationalities, but it’s free for citizens from a Schengen Area country. 

Visa requirements for working in Colombia

A temporary worker’s visa, known as a migrant (M) visa or M-5 is available for travelers who can prove they have a job lined up with a Colombian employer. This class of visa has a duration of up to three years, and your Colombian employer will need to provide several financial documents to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to support the process, including bank statements and proof of tax payments.

You can apply for this class of visa from abroad or while you are in the country on a tourist visit, making it easier to attend interviews with a local employer. While you can leave and enter the country on a working visa, it will expire if you leave Colombia for longer than six consecutive months.

It's not a cheap process, however. Expect to pay US$52 for the application process, and a further US$230 once it has been approved. You can apply online , although you may be required to show documents in person at your local consulate or embassy – there's a full list on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website .

If your application is successful, you’ll receive an electronic visa via email, which can be shown to border officials upon arrival and exit from Colombia. There is no legal requirement to have the visa printed in your passport unless you’re staying in Colombia for more than three months; however, it’s highly recommended that you get a copy printed at your local consulate as there’s always the possibility that passport officials may demand to see a physical copy.

This article was first published March 2022 and updated September 2023

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Extending Your Tourist Visa

Colombia allows tourists from various countries to enter the country without much fuss. These tourist visas are actually just stamps on your passports that allow you to stay for 90 days. After the initial 90 days, extending your tourist visa is a breeze!

It is important that you start your application early. It is suggested that you apply 5 days before the expiry of your visa. However, there is no penalty to starting even earlier than that as the 90-day visa extension is added to the expiry date of your current visa.

Step 1. Gather your documents

To extend your Colombia tourist visa you will need the following:

• The photo page of your passport
• The passport page showing your Colombian immigration entry stamp
• A ticket out of Colombia before the expiry of your tourist visa. This can be a copy of a flight confirmation email. It should include your full name and an itenerary showing your departure from Colombia to a non Colombian city.

Families have additional requirements for children:

• Birth certificate of the child
• The photo page of the parent’s passport

It is also important to note that the PDF file sizes are limited to a total of 1 MB.

Step 2. Head to the Migracion Website

You can find the Migracion Website here

You will be greeted by this form. Choose the third option saying “Permiso Temporal de Permanencia para Prorrogar Permanencia” after this select the office nearest to you. The rest of the form can be easily filled out as long as you have your documents ready.

Step 3. Wait

After you have submitted the form, you will receive an email saying that your application has been received. The email will also contain a confirmation number and password so you can check your application status online. It will usually take one to two days for application to be processed.

Step 4. Pay

If approved, there will be a fee of 99,000 pesos (free for Schengen and EU countries in Europe) and instructions in an email of how to pay the fee online through a bank or with a credit card. After all of this, a pdf will be sent confirming your extension. You will need to print and keep this alongside your passport.

Step 5. Celebrate!

You have successfully extended your tourist visa and now have an extra 90 days in Colombia! If you need ideas for your next Medellin adventures check out our suggested activities here !

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How To Extend a Tourist Visa in Medellín

Last updated April 6, 2016

Editor’s Note:  This information is specific to citizens of the USA, though I do believe it applies to most Western countries as well (Canada, Australia, UK). If you’re from another country, double-check the tourist visa rules as they apply to you.

Upon entry into Colombia, the Immigrations officer will usually give you 90 days for your first tourist visa. The amount of time is at the officer’s discretion.

Currently, a tourist visa allows Americans up to 180 days per calendar year in the country.

After your initial time is up, you can use the process below to extend your visa for up to a total of six months. There are two scenarios to be aware of when planning your time in the country.

You arrive on January 1, 2015 and are given a 90-day visa. You then extend your visa up to the maximum of six months per calendar year.

You must then leave the country by June 30, 2015 and cannot return until the start of the following calendar year, January 1, 2016.

You arrive on September 1, 2015, and are given a 90-day visa. You then extend your visa in November for an extra 90 days (six months total). You must then leave Colombia by February 28, 2016 because you are not allowed to stay in the country for more than 180 consecutive days, despite the change in calendar years.

You can choose from a variety of quick and easy ways to leave and come back, including cheap flights to Quito or Panama City.

If you return to Colombia March 2, 2016, you’ll get 90 days on arrival, and can then renew your visa once for up to an extra 90 days (for six months total in 2016). In this example, you would need to leave Colombia by about June 2, 2016.

How to Extend a Tourist Visa in Medellín

Important:  As of December 2015, you must make an appointment in advance via the Migración website .

1. You can now pay for your visa extension by credit or debit card at the Migración Colombia office. As of 2015, the cost is 81,000 pesos ($32).

To pay by cash, visit any Banco Occidente to deposit the Unidad Administrativa Especial Migración Colombia fee.

• Amount:  87,000 pesos (about $28)
• Account name: Unidad Administrativa Especial Migración Colombia
• Account number:  263-05464-5
• Referencia 1:  103  (the code for tourist visas)
• Referencia 2:  Your passport number
• You may be asked for a phone number to make the deposit
• Keep the original deposit slip, you’ll need to present it at the Migración office

Don’t rely on the bank branch to have this information. Bring it yourself.

2.  You will need one visa style (3 x 4 cm) photo with a white background.

If you do not have any on hand, you can either go to a photography store (available in all the big malls) and get a few printed off, or look for the small store near the Migración office which does them too.

3.  Make photocopies of the following:

• One copy of the information page in your passport
• One copy of the page with your entry stamp to Colombia

4.  Bring your original passport, photo, and documentation to the Migración Colombia office (formerly known as DAS).

• Address: Calle 19 #80A-40, Barrio Belén, Medellin
• Phone: 345-5500
• Office Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. The office is closed for national holidays.

5.  Proof of onward travel (copy of a booking for bus or flight out of Colombia).

If you don’t already have exit plans, simply print off an itinerary for a bus or plane ticket out of the country if they ask.

6. Check in at the front gate, where security will ask that you mute your phone. The security guard should also direct you toward the office, which is located directly down the driveway in front of you.

7. Present yourself at the counter where someone will verify you have the proper documentation, and if so, give you an application form to fill out, along with a number for the queue.

The application form requires:

• Basic biographical information, as well as your phone number and the address where you’re staying (hostel, hotel or apartment rental address will suffice).
• Name, address, and telephone number of a Colombian who can testify to knowing you.

8.  When it’s your turn, go up to the right person and answer any questions asked.

Be respectful, and if the worker doesn’t speak English and you have questions, see if anyone else in the office or waiting room can help. Usually, there is at least one bilingual staff member or person in the waiting room who can help.

9. You will be fully fingerprinted using an inkless pad, and if all the required documentation is provided, have your passport stamped for an extra 90 days.

You can follow a similar process in cities around Colombia. For a full list of offices, visit the new Migración Colombia website .

Tourists who overstay their visa will be required to pay a fine before exiting the country. The minimum fine is half of the average salary in Colombia (340,000 pesos, $133) up to 4,000,000 pesos ($1,563). If you are flying out, you should pay this fine at the Migracion office within a few days of your departure, otherwise, you may be delayed at the airport.

If any of this information is incorrect or out-of-date, please leave a comment below or  contact me  with the details.

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Guide to Visas and Residency Types in Colombia - Costs & Processes

By Michelle Thompson

Visa and residency in Colombia can be a complicated process, but it doesn’t have to be painful. In 2022, the government streamlined its immigration system and introduced new visa options, requirements, and fees for foreign nationals.

There are three main visa categories in Colombia to consider: Visitor or V-type, Migrant or M-type, and Resident or R-type. Each is meant to assist different categories of applicants, from retirees to spouses to real estate investors. The type of visa you decide to apply for depends on how long you plan to stay. Temporary visas and permanent residency are both useful at different times throughout the process of choosing Colombia as your permanent home.

If you’re considering living long-term or retiring in the country, the options below can help you decide what’s right for you. The article covers everything from tourist visa extensions to citizenship applications, and provides important details about cost, requirements, and documentation. The information is not meant to replace legal advice but to help you find the right resources and get a clear sense of what’s available to you as a retiree planning to live abroad.

Temporary Visas (V-Type Visa)

Visitor visas award any foreign national the right to visit Colombia temporarily, allowing them to stay for an extended period without the intention of establishing themselves permanently. There are many types of V class visas: tourist, rentista, religious, digital nomad, business, and more.

While retirees may ultimately want to obtain a longer visa period, the V-type visa can allow them to stay in the country for up to six months and learn more about Colombia. Consider the following four best options for retirees wishing to visit the country:

A tourist visa will allow you to stay up to 180 days per calendar year. Visitors from most countries , including the US, Canada, and the UK, can enter Colombia without a visa and typically receive a 90-day stamp upon arrival. To stay longer, you must apply for a 90-day extension before your initial stamp expires.

A rentista visa is intended for foreigners who receive regular passive income such as a pension, rental income, interest/dividends from investments, disability payments, an insurance settlement, or annuity payments. With this visa you can live in Colombia for up to two years but must not work nor generate business income while in Colombia. To qualify for a rentista visa you’ll need to prove a monthly income of at least $2,577.

The Business visa is a good choice if you’re planning to open a business in Colombia and would like to do some market exploration before committing. Business visas are valid for up to two years and will allow you to make multiple entries into the country.

Digital nomad can cover up to 2 years, but you’ll need to show that you make about $900 per month working remotely for a foreign company. You may be able to meet the income threshold by working part time. This option is ideal for semi-retired people who haven’t yet decided if they want to settle in Colombia but want to extend their stay and have the option to travel around the country and other parts of the globe.

Living in Colombia for several months can help you understand what it has to offer, how administrative processes work, and which parts of the country you prefer. If you’re undecided about moving to Colombia permanently, or still sorting out your finances back home, this should be your first step.

Documentation

The documentation you must provide will depend on the type of visa you apply for. For example, to extend your tourist visa, you will need a valid passport, proof of health insurance, a local address, and proof of your return ticket. You could also be asked to prove that you can cover your living expenses during your stay in Colombia. Rentistas have the same requirements as tourists, but must also submit a criminal background check and show they make at least $2,577 per month.

To obtain a business visa, you’ll need a valid passport, proof of health insurance, a local address, a business plan, bank statements to show you can cover your living expenses, and a letter explaining your business plans. As a digital nomad, you must provide the same documents as a tourist or rentista and will be asked to submit letters from your employer(s) and proof that you make more than $900 a month. A friendly tip: To get the best possible outcome, make sure your passport expiration date is passed the two-year duration of your potential stay.

Your visa should indicate how many days you can stay in the country and how often you can come and go. Overstaying is never a good idea even if expats with good intentions tell you otherwise. If you’ve stayed after your visa’s expiration, the immigration office will make you pay a fine when you leave. The amount will vary depending on the length of time you overstayed and the mood of the immigration officer. It may also impact how difficult it is to get another visa later on.

Permanent Residency (M-Type and R-Type)

Migrant visa (m type).

The M visa is meant for foreigners who want to enter Colombia with the intention of making it their long-term or permanent home. This visa allows people with beneficiaries, such as a spouse or child, to include them on their application. The M-type Visa offers those who don’t yet meet the conditions for an R-type visa a path toward permanent residency. The most common types of migrant visas are retirement, real estate, marriage, business, and retiree. The retirement visa (M-type) is one of the more attractive types of migrant visas available. Typically, migrant visas are granted for up to three years, but to keep the visa active you’ll need to be in the country at least once every six months.

Pensioner visas (retirement visas) allow applicants to migrate to Colombia and live off their retirement income. Real estate investor visas are for foreigners who have made a Foreign Direct Investment or purchased a property valuing more than 650 times the minimum monthly wage in Colombia. The minimum amounts needed to qualify for an M-type visa are subject to change and are based on formulas that take into account the rising minimum wage of Colombian citizens. You should always consult the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to confirm the current amount.

Resident Visa (R type)

Colombia’s R type visa is intended for foreigners who have lived there for several years and want to make it their permanent home. It has several benefits; for example, it can provide access to the national healthcare system and insurance program and doesn’t impose the same work restrictions V-type and M-type visas do. After three years of receiving a migrant visa (M-type), you can renew the visa and once you reach the five-year mark, you become eligible for permanent residency. R visa holders can work, invest money, and purchase and sell assets with far fewer restrictions than migrants and visitors.

In Colombia, you must accumulate time lived in the country before applying for permanent residency. There are a few scenarios where you can receive a resident visa: if you’re the parent of a Colombian citizen by birth, renounced your Colombian nationality in the past, accumulated time of permanence through other visa types, made a foreign investment in a Colombian company (investment visas), or your spouse is a Colombian citizen or permanent resident (marriage visa).

When it comes to your M-type and R-type visa application, you may want to work with a legal advisor who speaks English and Spanish and can guide you through the process of preparing and submitting the right documents. The basic requirements for the M-type visa application include your passport, digital photo (3x4 cm), bank statements, and your health insurance policy. Retirees applying for the pensioner visa must provide proof of their pension benefits, and real estate investors must share a copy of their registered foreign investment certificate.

For R-type visas, the following documents are needed:

A valid passport

A digital photo (3x4 cm)

A copy of your tourist stamps, extensions, and other visas received in the past

A copy of your foreigner ID card

A notarized letter certifying your pension benefits or monthly revenue

Criminal background checks from your home country and any countries you have resided in the past three years

A letter from a doctor certifying that you are in good physical and mental health (for the pensioner visa)

A health insurance policy

If applying for a visa from your home country, you may receive assistance from the nearest Colombian Embassy or Consulate and can pick up your visa after it is approved.

Citizenship

If you’ve lived in Colombia for several years, you probably consider it your home. Some foreign-born residents decide to apply for citizenship so they can have access to the same benefits Colombians do. In addition to giving you the right to vote, becoming a citizen protects you from deportation and can give you a sense of stability as you settle into your new life. As a Colombian citizen you can also move freely between Mercosur member states in South America using only your Colombian ID.

As a foreigner you must accumulate five years of residency under your M-type visa. Latin American or Caribbean citizens who have lived continuously in Colombia for one year are eligible to apply for citizenship. For Spanish citizens, the period is two years. If you marry a Colombian national or have Colombian children, you can apply after only two years. To start the naturalization process, you must prove that you are a legal resident.

Your citizenship application involves collecting several documents and answering questions about your decision to seek out Colombian citizenship.

Official application form submitted to the Minister of Foreign Affairs

The reasons motivating your request

Your most recent address

A police background check

Proof of civil status of any dependent if they are included in your applications

A certified copy of your Foreign ID card and Resident card

A notarized copy of your passport, birth certificate, or registration.

A letter from your employer (if this applies).

A copy of your Chamber of Commerce certificate if you are a business owner in Colombian

Copy of marriage certificate if married to a Colombian

Men under 50 years of age must comply with military status requirements

Five photographs (4x5 cm) on a blue background

Official translations of documents into Spanish

Basic knowledge of Colombia’s political constitution, history, geography, and language (Spanish).

Note that if you have a high school or university degree or are over 65, you are exempt from the last requirement on this list. Once you file your application, if you meet the requirements, you ‘ll be interviewed by an agent from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who will decide whether or not to grant you citizenship.

Processing Time

All visa applications can be completed online through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores or Cancilleria) and you can check their status using the link and passcode in the confirmation email you receive. If you plan to apply for your V-type visa from inside Colombia, provide both the arrival stamp and the front page of your passport at the time of your visa application. Despite the government website saying otherwise, V-type visas may take 20 to 30 days to be approved. If any documents are missing, this will delay the process by about one week.

The approval for M- and R-type visas can be 30 to 60 days long. At a minimum, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will need one month to study and approve your application and another week to prepare the visa document. Once approved, you must register your visa in person within 15 days. You should complete a Formulario Unico de Tramites form online and schedule an appointment to obtain your Foreigner ID card. Your new ID card will take about 7 to 10 days to arrive.

The list below is not meant to be comprehensive and prices are based on the latest fee amounts listed on the official Immigration Colombia website. We have included only the visas mentioned in this article. If you need formation about workers, students, religious migrants, spouses, business owners, and parents of a Colombian national who seek a visa or citizenship visit the Cancilleria website here .

*Cubans and European nationals pay lower fees.

The initial processing fee can be paid by credit card or Colombian bank card through the PSE payment system. A link should be available on the application website before you complete the initial process. To pay your visa fee, follow the instructions provided in your response email. The immigration office does not accept cash payments but can provide a bank letter upon request payable at Servibanca or GNB Sudameris Bank. If you apply in your home country you should be able to pay using your credit card or debit card.

Video: Visa and Residency in Colombia: Pensionado, Rentista, Resident Visa, Etc.

You may have noticed that websites have conflicting information about fees and minimum income and investment amounts. In 2022, the Colombian government updated its immigration rules along with many of its fees. The best way to get the most up-to-date information is to visit the official government website or call the Ministry of Foreign Affairs customer service line. You can also go to your local immigration office in person if you’re already in Colombia. There are immigration offices located in cities throughout the country. A list of locations and hours of operation can be found on Migración Colombia’s website . You can also refer to the Colombian Consulates directory to find the office nearest to your home city if you haven’t arrived yet.

There are many roads you can take to get a visa and live in Colombia. If you’re still early in the process and unsure if Colombia is the right destination for you, a Visitor visa may be a good first step. If you’ve already decided and are ready to make a permanent move, consider starting with a Migrant visa, which is renewable, gives you more freedom, and can help you obtain permanent residency later on.

Featured Image Copyright: ©iStock/yenwen

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The good news is that most people DO NOT need a "TOURIST VISA " to enter Colombia.

If you’re from the USA, Canada, Europe, or Australia etc., you will receive a PIP-5 Entry Permit stamp in your passport when you pass through immigration. This "Entry Permit"  stamp is your permission to stay in Colombia for 90 days. At the end of this period, you can extend the entry permit for another 90 days for a total of 180 days (see the extension process in the next section Colombian Tourist Permit Extension ).

So who does need a Tourist Visa?

If you are from one of the countries listed below you MUST apply for a Visa prior to arriving in Colombia.

Afghanistan Albania Algeria Angola Armenia Azerbaijan Bahrain Bangladesh Benin Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad Comoros Congo Cuba Democratic Republic of Congo Djibouti East Timor Egypt Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Ethiopia Gabon Gambia Georgia Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau Haiti India Iran Iraq Ivory Coast Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea Republic Dem. Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Democratic Republic Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Macao Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Maldives Mali Mauricio Mauritania Moldova Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Oman Pakistan Palestine People's Republic of China Qatar Rwanda Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Somalia Sri Lanka Sudan Swaziland Syria Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkmenistan Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vietnam Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe

Need advice?   Since the law changes frequently and we are not experts we recommend you consult your closest Colombian Embassy or Consulate or a local immigration lawyer for advice. 

How long can you stay in Colombia?

With a  PIP-5 Entry Permit  you can stay in Colombia  a maximum of 180 days in a calendar year .

You are given 90 days stamped in your passport when you enter the country. When those 90 days are due to expire you can extend another 90 days.  Note: Once you have extended a tourist permit once, you cannot extend a second time.

Confused as to how it works? The following examples should give some clarity. Example 1 If you arrive in Colombia on January 1st and stay for 90 days, you can extend your stay for an additional 90 days, from April to June, for a total of 180 days. Once you've reached 180 days in the calendar year, you'll need to leave the country and wait until the following January to be allowed to enter on another tourist permit.

Example 2: If you arrive in Colombia on December 1st and use your first 90 days allowance, you can then extend your stay for an additional 90 days, taking you up to the end of May. Since you cannot extend a tourist permit a second time, you'll need to leave the country at this point. However, since you've only stayed 150 days in the current calendar year, you're entitled to another 30 days. You can take a quick "vacation" to another country, such as Panama or Ecuador, and upon your return to Colombia, you'll be given the remainder of your allowance.

Example 3: If you want to stay in Colombia for the maximum amount of time possible, you can do so by carefully planning your trip. For example, you can arrive in July, use your first 90 days allowance, and then extend your stay until December. At this point, you'll have reached 180 days, so you'll need to leave the country. After a quick "Christmas vacation," you can return to Colombia in a new calendar year, which means a fresh stamp and another 180 days. This allows you to stay in Colombia for a total of 360 continuous days, with a mini break in the middle.

What if you overstay your Tourist Permit?

When your 180 days are up, you have to leave Colombia or face a fine. The fine is calculated arbitrarily and could range from one half to 7x the minimum monthly salary of the average Colombian. In other words between 580,000 COP and 8.1 million COP .

Whilst overstaying your visa was always considered no big deal in the past, recent examples would seem to indicate that Migracion Colombia are taking a harder stance on this issue. Overstaying your tourist permit may result in deportation, affect your ability to return to Colombia or negatively impact your request for a more formal visa (eg permanent residency) in the future. As per all things the situation can, and will change, frequently, always double check with Migracion Colombia.

When your 90 day Tourist Entry Permit (PIP-5)  expires, you'll need to renew your entry permit with Migracion Colombia (the renewal is called PTP-5 Permiso de Ingreso y Permanencia ).

Extending a Tourist Permit should technically be a painless process since you can now extend your tourist permit online. 

If you have problems completing the extension online here are the steps to do it manually.

• Make an appointment online. Some people have reported that the English version doesn't work so if that's the case don't give up, just switch the language.
• Go to Migración Colombia, in Belen.
• If you didn't get to complete the online form fill out the form that Migration Colombia give you and wait for your name to be called
• After they have checked your form cross the road to the visa agency located in front of Migracion Colombia and take two copies of the completed form and two copies of both your passport details page and entry visa page.
• Return to Migracion Colombia.
• You can pay the extension fee by credit card. If you don’t have access to a card, you can also deposit money into their bank account (which is not walkable from Migracion Colombia), they will give you the necessary details to pay.

We recommend you dress nicely, smile, and don’t lose your patience. Remember, they have your extension fate in their hands and visa issues are always up to the discretion of the officer working. If you don’t speak Spanish, there is generally someone in the office who speaks English who can help you - it’s best to at least make some effort though.

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How to Extend a Colombian Tourist Visa

Last updated on December 21, 2023 .

Tourists from most countries are typically given a 90 day tourist visa upon entering Colombia . There is a maximum stay of 180 days in the country per calendar year for those wishing to extend that original tourist visa. Tourists also cannot stay more than 180 consecutive days in the country even if the years overlap.

How to Get an Extension

There are two ways to get a Colombian tourist visa extension. The first is to leave the country for at least 48 hours and reenter. The second is to visit a regional office of Migración Colombia . You can visit the website to find a list of offices. The visa extension fee costs COP$125,000 (as of April 2023), but is free for Ecuadorian and EU citizens of Schengen member states.

UPDATE: As of 2018, there’s a third way to get a visa extension. You can now apply online without having to visit Migración Colombia and deal with miserable government employees. Chris at The Unconventional Route has written a detailed post on how to do that. Click here to find out.

Visiting a Migración Office

I visited the Migración office in Pereira  for an extension of my Colombian tourist visa. First, I went to the office in person a month before my visa expired to ask exactly what I needed for the extension:

• 1 passport photo
• A copy of my main passport page
• A copy of my entry stamp into Colombia
• My passport
• A printout of a plane or bus reservation out of Colombia before the additional 90 days expire
• A credit or debit card to pay the visa extension fee OR the same amount in cash to pay at a bank before the appointment (the office can give you the bank information on how to pay). If you have a passport from a Schengen country, there is no visa fee.

What the nice man behind the desk failed to tell us is that I had to schedule an appointment online with Migración Colombia . He did tell us, however, that we must come into the office no earlier than a week before the visa’s expiration.

The Appointment

Fast forward one month later. We showed up a few days before my original visa expired. The same man behind the desk who saw us just a month before remembered us but asked if we had an appointment. We told him we didn’t and that he hadn’t mentioned anything about an appointment.

I looked around sarcastically because the entire office was empty. He told us to make an appointment and come back. That wasn’t an option, especially since we had to travel over two hours to get there in the first place. With a little pleading he agreed to take care of it anyway.

I handed over all of the items I was asked to bring. I paid with my credit card to avoid a side trip to the bank. At the end, the man put a new stamp in my passport and showed me the new expiration date. The entire process took all of 10 minutes and was relatively painless.

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Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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Tourist Permit (Stamp) Extensions

Most tourists are allowed to stay in Colombia up to 180 days in a calendar year through just a tourist stamp (without applying for a visa). Generally, the immigration officer at the port of entry gives the tourist permission to stay for 90 days and then the tourist must extend his or her stay for another 90 days. This can be accomplished by leaving the country and returning (a border run) or applying online with Migración Colombia (Colombian Immigration). The application process should be straightforward, so tourists often apply by themselves, but several of our clients have preferred that we apply for them citing the consistently frustrating Migración Colombia website, the language barrier, or not wanting to waste their own time dealing with it.

Requirements

Passport Data Page

Passport page with last entry stamp

Passport-style photo with white background

Proof of onward travel

Tourist Stamp Extension application

The supporting documents submitted must not exceed 1MB in total.

Government Fee

125,000 COP

Free for Schengen Area countries

Up to 90 days - at the discretion of the Immigration Official

Non-renewable

Your proof of onward travel should be scheduled for close to the end of 90 days in the future if you wish to be given a full 90 days of extra time in Colombia (even if you plan on canceling this exit ticket). If you show an exit ticket for only a week or month from the date of application, the Immigration Official may be tempted to only give you a Tourist Stamp Extension up until the date of the exit ticket.

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• Central & South America

How Long Can You Stay In Colombia On A Tourist Visa

Published: November 7, 2023

Modified: December 28, 2023

by Sharon Lansing

• Plan Your Trip

Introduction

Colombia, known for its rich cultural heritage, vibrant cities, and stunning natural landscapes, is a popular destination for tourists from around the world. Whether you’re looking to explore the ancient ruins of the Lost City, soak up the sun on the pristine Caribbean beaches, or indulge in the vibrant nightlife of Bogotá, Colombia offers a wide range of experiences for every traveler.

However, before embarking on your journey to Colombia, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with the country’s visa requirements, specifically the tourist visa. Understanding the rules and regulations regarding your stay will ensure a smooth and hassle-free trip.

In this article, we will delve into the details of how long you can stay in Colombia on a tourist visa, entry requirements for obtaining a tourist visa, the possibility of extending your stay, the consequences of overstaying your visa, and other important considerations.

So, let’s dive in and explore everything you need to know about staying in Colombia on a tourist visa!

Tourist Visa for Colombia

Before you can enter Colombia as a tourist, you need to obtain a tourist visa. The tourist visa is typically issued for a maximum stay of 90 days. This visa allows you to explore the country, engage in tourism-related activities, visit friends and family, and experience the local culture.

To apply for a tourist visa, you will need to visit the Colombian consulate or embassy in your home country or check if you are eligible for an online visa. The required documents may vary depending on your nationality, but generally include a valid passport with at least six months of validity remaining, a completed visa application form, proof of hotel reservation or accommodation, round-trip airline tickets, proof of sufficient funds for your stay, and a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you are traveling from a country at risk.

It is important to note that the tourist visa is a single-entry visa, which means that once you leave Colombia, you will need to apply for a new visa if you wish to reenter the country as a tourist.

Additionally, it is advisable to check with the consulate or embassy for any updated requirements or changes in visa regulations before applying.

Now that you understand the basics of obtaining a tourist visa for Colombia, let’s move on to the entry requirements for this visa.

Entry Requirements for a Tourist Visa

When applying for a tourist visa to enter Colombia, there are certain entry requirements that you need to meet. These requirements may vary depending on your nationality, so it is important to check with the Colombian consulate or embassy in your home country for specific details.

Generally, the entry requirements for a tourist visa include the following:

• A valid passport: Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure date from Colombia.
• Visa application form: You will need to complete a visa application form, providing accurate and up-to-date information.
• Proof of accommodation: You may be required to provide proof of hotel reservations or accommodation for the duration of your stay in Colombia.
• Proof of financial means: You will need to demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay in Colombia.
• Round-trip airline tickets: You must have a confirmed round-trip ticket showing your entry to and exit from Colombia.
• Yellow fever vaccination certificate: If you are coming from a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission, you may need to show proof of vaccination.

It is important to note that the exact entry requirements may differ based on your nationality and the specific consulate or embassy where you apply. Therefore, it is essential to double-check the requirements and gather all the necessary documents before submitting your visa application.

Once you have met the entry requirements and submitted your application, the consulate or embassy will process your visa request. This process may take several days or weeks, so it’s advisable to apply well in advance of your intended travel dates.

With the entry requirements in mind, let’s move on to the next section and explore how long you can stay on a tourist visa in Colombia.

Length of Stay on a Tourist Visa

When entering Colombia on a tourist visa, the maximum duration of stay is typically 90 days. This 90-day period begins from the date of entry. During this time, you are allowed to explore the country, engage in tourist activities, and experience the local culture.

It’s important to note that the 90-day limit is applicable for each entry on a tourist visa. If you leave Colombia and later return on a new tourist visa, you will be granted another 90-day period of stay. However, it’s essential to adhere to the visa regulations and not exceed the maximum stay limit.

If you wish to extend your stay beyond the initial 90 days, you have a few options available. One option is to apply for a visa extension through the Colombian immigration authority known as Migración Colombia. The extension allows you to extend your stay for an additional 90 days, bringing the total maximum stay to 180 days in a calendar year. To apply for an extension, you will need to provide a valid reason for your request and fulfill the necessary requirements set by Migración Colombia.

It’s worth mentioning that the decision to grant a visa extension is at the discretion of Migración Colombia. Therefore, it is recommended to start the extension process well in advance before your initial 90-day period expires to ensure a smooth and timely extension.

It’s important to manage your stay in Colombia within the permitted time limits to avoid any complications or penalties. Overstaying your tourist visa can have serious consequences, which we will discuss in the next section.

Now that you know how long you can stay on a tourist visa in Colombia, let’s explore the process of extending your stay.

Extending Your Stay in Colombia

If you find yourself wanting to extend your stay in Colombia beyond the initial 90-day period allowed on a tourist visa, you have the option to apply for a visa extension. The process for extending your stay varies depending on your individual circumstances and the requirements set by Migración Colombia, the Colombian immigration authority.

To begin the extension process, you will need to gather the necessary documents and make an appointment with Migración Colombia. Some of the common requirements for a visa extension include:

• A completed visa extension application form.
• Valid passport with at least six months of validity remaining.
• Proof of financial means to support your extended stay in Colombia.
• Evidence of a valid reason for the extension, such as continued tourism, medical treatment, or other exceptional circumstances.

It’s essential to submit your application for a visa extension before your initial 90-day period expires. Failure to do so could result in penalties or even deportation from the country. Therefore, it is advisable to start the extension process well in advance to allow for any potential delays or complications.

Keep in mind that the approval of a visa extension is not guaranteed, and the decision lies with Migración Colombia. It is vital to provide accurate and complete information and meet all the requirements outlined by the immigration authority.

If your visa extension is approved, you will be granted an additional 90 days, extending your total stay in Colombia to a maximum of 180 days in a calendar year. However, it’s important to note that exceeding the maximum stay limit could have serious consequences.

With the possibility of extending your stay in mind, let’s move on to the next section and discuss the implications of overstaying your tourist visa.

Overstaying Your Tourist Visa

Overstaying your tourist visa in Colombia can have serious consequences and is not advisable. If you exceed the maximum allowed stay of 90 days on a tourist visa, you may face penalties, fines, and potential difficulties when leaving the country or attempting to reenter in the future.

When you overstay your tourist visa, you become an “illegal” resident in the eyes of Colombian immigration authorities. It’s important to understand that Migración Colombia takes visa violations seriously and may take the following actions if you overstay your visa:

• Fines: Overstaying your visa can result in hefty fines that increase the longer you remain in the country.
• Entry bans: If you overstay your tourist visa for an extended period or have a history of visa violations, you may be banned from entering Colombia for a certain period.
• Deportation: In severe cases, Migración Colombia may decide to deport you, which can lead to significant disruptions to your travel plans and potential difficulties in reentering the country.

To avoid these consequences, it is essential to plan your stay within the permitted visa limits and comply with the rules and regulations set by Colombian immigration authorities.

If you realize that your stay in Colombia will exceed the 90-day limit, it’s advisable to apply for a visa extension through Migración Colombia before your initial visa expires. By proactively addressing your situation, you can regularize your stay and avoid any legal issues.

Now that you understand the implications of overstaying your tourist visa, let’s discuss what you can do if you wish to stay in Colombia for a longer period or pursue a different visa type.

Consequences of Overstaying Your Tourist Visa

Overstaying your tourist visa in Colombia comes with a range of consequences that can have an impact on your current and future travel plans. It is important to be aware of these consequences to avoid any legal and logistical issues.

The following are some of the possible consequences of overstaying your tourist visa:

• Fines: Overstaying your visa can result in fines imposed by Migración Colombia. The amount of the fine can increase the longer you stay beyond the permitted period.
• Entry Bans: If you overstay your tourist visa for an extended period of time or have a history of visa violations, you may be subject to an entry ban, preventing you from returning to Colombia for a specific period.
• Deportation: In serious cases of visa violation, Migración Colombia has the authority to deport you from the country. Being deported not only disrupts your travel plans but can also impact your ability to enter Colombia or other countries in the future.
• Difficulties in Future Visa Applications: Overstaying your visa can negatively impact future visa applications. Immigration authorities may view previous visa violations as a red flag, potentially leading to increased scrutiny or denials of future visa requests.

It is crucial to understand that violating visa regulations can have long-term consequences and affect your travel plans and immigration status. To avoid these issues, it is always recommended to abide by the rules and regulations regarding your visa and stay within the allowed timeframe.

If you anticipate that you may need to stay in Colombia for a longer period or pursue a different visa type, it is advisable to consult with Migración Colombia or seek legal advice to explore your options. Taking proactive steps to address your situation can help you avoid any complications and ensure a smooth and legal stay in the country.

Now that you are familiar with the consequences of overstaying your tourist visa, let’s explore the possibilities of applying for a different visa type in Colombia.

Applying for a Different Visa Type

If you wish to stay in Colombia for a longer period or engage in activities beyond the scope of a tourist visa, you may need to consider applying for a different visa type that suits your specific purpose. Colombia offers various visa categories that cater to different needs and circumstances.

Some of the common visa types that you can explore include:

• Work Visa: If you have a job offer from a Colombian company or wish to start your own business in Colombia, you may need to apply for a work visa. This visa allows you to work legally in the country.
• Student Visa: If you plan to study in Colombia, a student visa is required. You must be accepted into a recognized educational institution to be eligible for this visa category.
• Investment Visa: If you plan to invest a significant amount of money in Colombia, you may be eligible for an investment visa. This visa category encourages foreign investment in various sectors of the country’s economy.
• Retirement Visa: Colombia offers a retirement visa for individuals who wish to retire in the country. To be eligible, you typically need to demonstrate a steady income stream and meet certain age requirements.
• Marriage Visa: If you are married to a Colombian citizen or have a Colombian spouse, you may be eligible for a marriage visa, which allows you to reside in Colombia.

Each visa type has its own specific requirements and application process. It is advisable to consult with the Colombian consulate or embassy in your home country or seek legal advice to understand the detailed requirements and procedures for your desired visa category.

Remember, applying for a different visa type requires careful planning and thorough documentation. It’s important to start the process well in advance to allow for any potential delays and ensure a smooth transition from your current visa status.

Now that you are aware of the possibilities of applying for a different visa type, let’s discuss the option of leaving Colombia and reentering on a tourist visa.

Leaving Colombia and Reentering on a Tourist Visa

If you have reached the maximum stay on your tourist visa or have overstayed your initial 90-day period in Colombia, leaving the country and reentering on a new tourist visa can be an option to extend your stay.

When you leave Colombia, your tourist visa becomes invalid, and you will need to apply for a new visa at a Colombian consulate or embassy in your home country or any other country you plan to visit before returning to Colombia.

Reentering on a tourist visa allows you to enjoy another 90-day stay in Colombia. However, it is crucial to remember that visa regulations should be followed, and you must not exceed the maximum stay limit in any given calendar year.

Before leaving Colombia, ensure that you have all the necessary documents for the visa application, including a valid passport, round-trip airline tickets, proof of sufficient funds for your stay, and any additional requirements specified by the consulate or embassy.

It’s important to note that the visa application process and requirements can vary depending on the country in which you are applying. It is advisable to check with the specific consulate or embassy for the most up-to-date information and to allow sufficient time for processing your visa application before your planned return date to Colombia.

Remember to plan your trips and visa applications strategically to ensure a smooth transition and avoid any issues or disruptions to your travel plans. Additionally, it’s always a good idea to maintain copies of important documents and keep a record of your travel history to facilitate the visa application process.

Now that you understand the option of leaving Colombia and reentering on a tourist visa, let’s conclude our comprehensive guide on staying in Colombia on a tourist visa.

Staying in Colombia on a tourist visa provides an incredible opportunity to explore the country’s diverse landscapes, immerse yourself in its rich culture, and create unforgettable memories. Understanding the visa regulations and requirements is essential to ensure a smooth and enjoyable stay without any legal complications.

In this article, we have discussed the process of obtaining a tourist visa for Colombia, the entry requirements, and the length of stay permitted on a tourist visa. We have also explored the option of extending your stay through a visa extension and the potential consequences of overstaying your visa.

Importantly, we have highlighted the possibility of applying for a different visa type to fulfill specific purposes such as working, studying, retiring, or investing in the country. Each visa type carries its own set of requirements and application procedures, so it is wise to consult with the Colombian consulate or seek legal advice to navigate this process successfully.

If your time on a tourist visa is coming to an end or you have exceeded the maximum stay limit, leaving Colombia and reentering on a new tourist visa can be a viable option. However, it is crucial to adhere to visa regulations, plan your trips strategically, and check the specific requirements of the consulate or embassy in your home country or in the country from which you plan to apply for a new visa.

As you navigate your stay in Colombia, remember to respect the country’s laws, customs, and cultural norms. Familiarize yourself with local customs, traditions, and safety precautions to ensure a positive and memorable experience during your time in this remarkable South American nation.

Enjoy your time in Colombia, soak in its beauty, embrace the warm hospitality of its people, and cherish the moments you spend in this captivating country!

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Brazil again extends visa exemptions for U.S., Canada and Australia, this time until 2025

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Brazil’s government extended exemptions to tourist visa requirements for citizens of the U.S., Australia and Canada until April 2025, extending a program aimed at boosting tourism that had been scheduled to end Wednesday.

The decision, issued by Brazilian presidency and the Ministry of Foreign Relations late Tuesday, marks the third time Brazil has delayed the visa requirement since President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took office in 2023.

His predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, exempted the countries from visas as a means to boost tourism — although all three countries continued to demand visas from Brazilians.

That went against the South American country’s tradition of requiring visas from travelers based on the principle of reciprocity and equal treatment, and prompted Lula’s Foreign Ministry to say it would scrap the exemptions.

Travel & Experiences

Brazil dropping its visa requirement for U.S. citizens

U.S. citizens will no longer need a visa to get into Brazil, Brazil Tourism said Wednesday.

March 21, 2019

“Brazil does not grant unilateral exemption from visiting visas, without reciprocity, to other countries,” the ministry said at the time, while noting that the government stood ready to negotiate visa waiver agreements on a reciprocal basis. It did reach a deal with Japan to ease travel provisions.

The decision to maintain exemptions for the three countries is important for boosting tourism in Brazil, notably from the U.S., Brazil’s official tourism board Embratur said in a statement Tuesday.

Official data shows that nearly 670,000 Americans visited Brazil in 2023, making the U.S. the second-largest country of origin after neighboring Argentina.

The government initially postponed the reinstatement of the visa requirement in October, then again in January. At the time, the government said it was still finalizing a new visa system and wanted to avoid implementing it close to the high season, mainly during the New Year’s celebrations and Carnival festivities in February, which attract tens of thousands of tourists.

Sá Pessoa writes for the Associated Press.

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• 15 April 2024

Citizenship privilege harms science

• Mayank Chugh 0 &
• Tiffany Joseph 1

Mayank Chugh is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, and former chair of the Harvard Medical Postdoc Association.

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Tiffany Joseph is an associate professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, and in the Interntional Affairs Program, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Researchers travelling to countries in the global north can still be denied entry at border control even if they have all the relevant paperwork. Credit: Darren Baker/Alamy

You have full access to this article via your institution.

Imagine you want to attend a research conference in the United States this autumn. If you are from most nations in the global north, there’s probably still plenty of time to make arrangements. But, according to our analysis, citizens from 132 of the 134 countries in the global south need a visa to visit the United States, whereas this is true for people from only 20 of the 61 countries in the global north. (See Supplementary information for how we designated global south countries.) And obtaining those visas is not straightforward: as of 4 April, the next available appointment at the US consulate in New Delhi, India, is not until October. It’s February 2025 at the consulate in Cotonou, Benin, and March 2026 in Bogotá, Colombia.

It’s not just trips to the United States that are problematic. Scholars from the global south face obstacles when travelling to many hotspots for scientific research, which include Canada, Japan and most European countries. By contrast, citizens from more than 80% of countries in the global north need no visa to go to Germany or Japan.

Scientists have most impact when they’re free to move

Visa costs are higher for people in economically weak countries than for those living elsewhere 1 . Citizens of southern Asia must pay almost US$59, on average, for a tourist visa to another country — equivalent to 2 weeks of work for an average earner in this region. Those in sub-Saharan Africa pay $52, equating to 3 weeks’ work. Yet citizens in Western Europe pay less than $18, on average, which could be equivalent to less than an hour’s work.

On arrival in some countries, people travelling from the global south might also have to show months of financial statements and prove that they have received particular vaccinations. They might be denied entry despite meeting these requirements .

Citizenship privilege is an asset experienced by citizens of the global north, simply because of the country they were born in (see ‘Unearned advantages’). As with other forms of privilege, people without it can experience safety concerns and feelings of distress, anxiety, uncertainty and inadequacy 2 — in addition to the bureaucratic difficulties. This inequity affects many researchers. It’s time that academics take action to rebalance the scales.

Unearned advantages

As a US-born citizen, one of us (T.J.) is privileged by her citizenship. The other (M.C.), born in the global south, lacks this privilege. Here are four of many privileges — or the lack thereof — that neither of us has earned (see go.nature.com/3vjkmbu ).

• I am (not) able to travel to most countries on short notice.

• I do (not) need to provide evidence of my intent to return home, my travel history dating back ten years or the fact that I have the financial means to support myself.

• I do (not) have to fear being deported by border control because of my race, ethnicity, language differences, travel history, other cultural barriers or concerns that I am a national-security threat.

• I do (not) have to worry about travelling to my home country to renew or extend my lawful visa status, or about how visa rejection might hamper my career.

Mobility opens up careers

The expectation that researchers will travel and work internationally is baked into academia. For example, a study of more than 40,000 advertisements for research positions on a European job platform showed that more than 60% listed mobility as a desirable attribute 3 . This preference stems from the idea that mobile researchers are more productive and have better skills and networks than their less-mobile counterparts, making them more competitive in a fierce job market 4 , 5 . Governments, funding agencies and research universities promote mobility in the hope that it will build research capacity and boost economies 6 .

The pressure to move abroad to build a competitive career is often highest for early-career researchers 4 . Consider short-term postdoctoral fellowship awards from prestigious organizations, such as the European Commission’s Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, the Human Frontier Science Program and the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO). These all require applicants to leave the country where they earned their PhD and take a position elsewhere, but the chances for citizens of the global south to work in another global south country are limited. Applicants must instead typically move to the United States or particular European countries.

Most international meetings are located in the same few countries. An analysis of global health conferences held between 1997 and 2019, for instance, found that 71% took place in high-income countries, with 31% in the United States alone 7 .

Travel and migration are beneficial for researchers’ careers, but many jobs and meetings are based in the global north. Credit: Zach Gibson/Getty

Together, these factors make travel and migration beneficial for researchers’ careers — especially if that movement is to or between global north countries. Indeed, one study indicates that 82% of researchers who move between countries for their first postdoc are destined for the global north 8 . The United States is the most common destination, but the United Kingdom, Germany and Switzerland are also popular 8 , 9 .

Even after a move, academics from the global south remain at a disadvantage. Foreign researchers are more likely to face bullying and harassment from mentors than are domestic researchers, and they are less likely to report it because of the threat that their visa will not be renewed. Visa inequity can cause anxiety, stress and depression 10 . All foreign nationals on visas are vulnerable, but scholars who have identities that make them susceptible to encountering intersecting forms of discrimination are at a greater disadvantage and thus in a more precarious position.

Close the gaps

Six steps can help to redress the balance.

Universities should educate their employees about citizenship privilege, to help reduce hiring biases. Institutional leaders should advocate for change and ensure that their human-resource and international-service offices are staffed by people who understand citizenship privilege and the lived experiences of immigrants. This would help immigrant scholars facing language barriers, financial pressures, homesickness and cultural shock 11 .

Why the mental cost of a STEM career can be too high for women and people of colour

Academic institutions should help students and researchers to offload visa paperwork to trained administrative staff. Too often, institutions assist incoming international scholars with visa sponsorships, but leave academics who are already in a post to fend for themselves when it comes to visa renewals or complications. Institutions should establish safeguarding frameworks to prevent bullying. And they should lobby for and adopt visa types that provide researchers with stability, flexibility and safety — skilled-worker visas instead of short-term ones, for example.

Conference organizers should hold international meetings in global south countries where visas are not needed, or where visa processing is fast and inexpensive, such as Cambodia, Rwanda or Ecuador. Affordability should be a consideration, because currency differences can make conferences in the global north unaffordable for researchers from low- and middle-income countries.

Researchers should be given at least six months’ notice of conferences, and organizers should help participants to apply for visas by issuing invitation letters and communicating with embassies. Some of these changes are already being implemented — for instance, the joint meeting held by the American Society for Cell Biology and EMBO has started to expedite abstract reviews and issue customized visa invitation letters to conference attendees.

Organizers should offer lower registration fees for scholars from visa-underprivileged countries, which they could calculate using a country’s per capita income or the Henley Passport Index , which ranks countries according to the number of nations to which their citizens can travel visa-free (see ‘Global mobility divide’). Organizers should also set aside funds to award more travel grants to researchers from low-income countries, and make those grants larger. All conferences should include virtual options to increase international attendance.

Lastly, early-career researchers from visa-underprivileged countries must routinely be included in conference organizing and institutional leadership committees, expanding the pool of decision makers to bring diverse immigrant perspectives to the table.

Some might argue that the world’s scientific output is already becoming less centred on the global north, negating the need for these steps. It is true that global south countries such as India, China, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates are publishing more papers and producing more science graduates than ever (see, for example, Nature 620 , S2–S5; 2023 ). However, most gatekeepers of knowledge, such as journal editors and reviewers, are located in the global north 12 .

Beyond perpetuating a global divide, citizenship privilege intersects with other biases that favour cisgender, white and male researchers. The professoriate in global north countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom remains predominantly white. Some countries’ policy choices pose immense challenges to making academia more equitable, including the US Supreme Court’s decision to end race as a considering factor in admissions , and US subnational policies that limit access to gender-affirming care and create a hostile environment for global immigration. Lowering mobility barriers is a key step in driving change.

Nature 628 , 499-501 (2024)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-01080-x

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Supplementary Information

• Supplementary table of contents
• Designation of global south & source data for map graphic

Competing Interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

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